Big Gay Frat House Blog

Flickr Favorites #10: The Epiphany Party

[To celebrate achieving 50,000 photos on my Flickr stream since 2006, I'm posting my top 20 favorite photographic themes. Check out Top 20 Flickr Photo Themes and 50,000 Photos for more. To see the best restricted photos on Flickr, you will need to create an account and then turn off SafeSearch in your account settings.] 

[Note: like much of my Flickr account, this post is not exactly safe for work.]

On January 5, 2006, we threw our first major party at the Big Gay Frat House -- the Epiphany Party. It was the largest non-fundraiser we've ever held there and helped set the tone for our future events.

I had been in a private local Mardi Gras krewe for many years, almost two decades. Our krewe selected a monarch at Mardi Gras who would reign through the party and then throughout the next year. In most years, the monarch was chosen by lottery; candidates would select a piece of king cake. A small plastic baby was baked in the cake; whichever candidate selected the piece with the baby would be chosen monarch for the following year. For a five year stretch, monarchs were elected by the True Krewe, a group of members who helped throw the annual parties. We returned to letting the baby select the monarch, but only True Krewe members were eligible to be candidates.

I had vied to become monarch every year since joinging the krewe in its fourth year, and I was always the bridesmaid, never the bride. I was dubbed the Susan Lucci of our krewe. Finally in 2005, in the krewe's 17th year and my 14th as a member, we held our celebration in Palm Springs and, on my birthday, I was became monarch by acclamation when all of the other potential candidates stepped down to guarantee me the win.

One of the founders of the krewe always believed that finding the baby always "speeded things up" for the monarch, karmicly speaking, for good or bad. That was certainly the case for me. A month after becoming king, I was hired by Gay.com after more than a year of unemployment (granted, I wasn't looking for much of that time). Six months later, we bought the Big Gay Frat House.

(Note: some of the other photos in this post may not be entirely safe for work. More after the jump.)

Favorite Weekly Club Night or Party (Best of the Gay Awards)

1. Booty Call Wednesdays at QBar
2. Mary-Go-Round at LookOut
3. Boy Bar at The Cafe
4. Underwear Night at 440 Castro

In San Francisco, there's something fun going on in gay bars every night of the week. But apparently Wednesdays are the new Fridays because the top two winners for Favorite Weekly Club Night or Party were both for Wednesday night events.

First place went to Booty Call Wednesdays, an event by Juanita MORE! and one of her MOREboys, Joshua J. It originally premiered at the Bar on Castro; when the bar lost its lease and the new owners renamed it QBar, Booty Call was one of the events that stayed behind.

In addition to great music and cute go-go boys (and sometimes go-go drags), the back room gets transformed every week with a new art installation. Resident photographer Isaac has taken over from the original photographer, Brandon, to take portraits of the guests. You can often see who made it out on Wednesday by whose Facebook profile photos have changed on Friday. You can check out more photos on Flickr.

Second place went to another Wednesday night event, a drag show at the LookOut called Mary-Go-Round. Three of San Francisco's drag superstars rotate hosting duties: Cookie Dough, Pollo Del Mar, and Suppositori Spelling. Check out some of the Flickr photos.

It took Gus Presents' weekly Friday night at The Cafe, called Boy Bar, to bring me out on a weekly basis -- and back to The Cafe after a long absence. Of the almost 6,000 photos of go-go boys I've taken, the vast majority were taken at Boy Bar, and that's where I first started to become known as a snapper of nightlife photos. You can see more of my photos on Flickr for Boy Bar, which came in third place among our voters.

Fourth place went to Underwear Night at 440 Castro, which is held every Monday. Nope, no photos, sorry.

Go back to The BGFH's Best of the Gay Awards for more winners.

[Note: The Best of the Gay Awards are nominated by friends of the Big Gay Frat House. It's a completely unscientific opinion of those people on our mailing list or friends on Facebook who bothered to vote. Please leave a comment to express your own favorites ... and join our mailing list to be able to vote next year.]

Favorite Monthly Club Event (Best of the Gay Awards)

1. Wet and Wild at Club 8
2. Trannyshack at DNA Lounge
3. Cockfight at Underground SF
4. Fresh at Ruby Skyy

The winner for Favorite Monthly Club Event is also the youngest event on the list, being less than a year old: Wet and Wild, held on the third Saturday of every month at Club 8. The product of a new club promotion team known as The Boys, Wet and Wild is hosted every month by Lady TaTas with a different guest drag or trans co-hostess every month. Along with amazing video visuals and hot go-go boys, the event also always features a brief drag show around midnight along with some sort of wet and/or wild contest or show: the San Francisco winner of RentBoy's "Hookie Awards," an underwear fashion show, a bobbing for dildos contest, a wet underwear contest, and more. You can check out more restricted photos of Wet and Wild on Flickr.

Heklina's legendary drag show Trannyshack, our secon place winner, used to be held every Tuesday at The Stud. After a brief hiatus, it was reborn as a month event at the DNA Lounge. The show features some of the most shocking, controversial drag performances ever seen on stage -- truly a San Francisco institution.

Third place went to Cockfight, held on the third Saturday of every month at Underground SF in the Lower Haight. It's brought to you by Culture Whores, the people who were behind the lamented Faggot First Wednesdays. You can check out more Cockfight photos on Flickr. And fourth went to Fresh, the monthly gay dance party held once a month at Ruby Skye.

Go back to The BGFH's Best of the Gay Awards for more winners.

[Note: The Best of the Gay Awards are nominated by friends of the Big Gay Frat House. It's a completely unscientific opinion of those people on our mailing list or friends on Facebook who bothered to vote. Please leave a comment to express your own favorites ... and join our mailing list to be able to vote next year.]

BGFH's Best of the GAY Nominations

The Big Gay Frat House is launching our annual Best of the Gay Awards (with all due credit to the SF Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay awards), where our friends and supporters can nominate their favorite LGBT places and things to do in San Francisco.

Please note that the nominees must all be in San Francisco. By including your email address, you will be able to change your votes if you choose -- simply resubmit a fresh ballot with the same email address, and we will only consider the most recent submission for duplications.

The deadline to submit your nominations is 12:00 midnight PDT on Sunday, May 16. That gives you about three weeks to vote.

We reserve the right to remove submissions that we perceive to be spam or are submitted for other hostile reasons.

NOTE: Nominations are now closed. You can find the results at The BGFH's Best of the Gay Awards.

Summer Splash 2009

We're delighted to be able to help pass along the word about Summer Splash 09, a pool party fundraiser benefiting the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation taking place on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

 

Please mark your calendars for Summer Splash 09, a pool party produced by Image Three Inc. and the W San Francisco, benefiting the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation taking place on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

The event celebrates REAF’s long-standing commitment to raise funds for AIDS service provider agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area. The event coincides with San Francisco Gay Pride week.

This year’s event is already making a Splash. When the W San Francisco teamed up with veteran event producers, Image Three Inc, Pride revelers and San Francisco Bay Area locals alike, knew they were in for a sensorial experience like no other. One excited attendee commented, "A posh pool party sounds like the perfect Summertime activity. Finally there is an event in San Francisco similar to the pool parties found in Los Angeles and Miami."

Festivities will kick-off at 1:00pm at the W San Francisco's 4th floor Pool Pavilion and Terrace. Partygoers are encouraged to wear chic pool wear, highlighting their sizzling, summer bodies and will enjoy sips, savories, sights and sounds.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.richmondermet.org.

FLOP HOUSE!

We're excited to announce that our first fundraiser of 2008 will be Flop House, a benefit for SF Boylesque, San Francisco's only male burlesque troupe.

Saturday, April 12, 2008
Doors open at 7pm
Event must end by 11pm

Originally conceived as an all-male burlesque review in the style of the vintage Weimer Era shows (think Cabaret), SF Boylesque now works as traveling nomads, performing in different venues and charity benefits throughout the City. This fundraiser will help them raise funds to travel to Las Vegas in June to compete as the only male troupe in the Miss Exotic World Pageant, the most prestigious burlesque competition in the United States.

The event will feature:

• Performances by SF Boylesque
• Bachelor date auctions with the boys of Boylesque
• Open bar sponsored by Michael Daniels of Young's Market

A donation of $20 in advance (through Frantix.net) or $25 at the door is requested.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This event will be photographed and videotaped by members of the media, including a documentary film crew. Your presence indicates your consent that you might appear in photos or video to be used for editorial, marketing, and other promotional purposes.

More SF Boylesque images from Kevin and others...

Thank you for an amazing 2007!

This has been an amazing year for the Big Gay Frat House, and we want to thank everyone who participated and helped us do so much for so many people.

Last year, we focused our efforts on two large events. In 2007, we chose to do more frequent, smaller events, and managed to raise thousands and thousands of dollars for so many worthy organizations covering the gamut of the LGBT community's interests: social service organizations (the AIDS Housing Alliance, Community United Against Violence, Project Open Hand, and the Stop AIDS Project); athletic organizations (the San Francisco Fog rugby team and the SF Goaldiggers hockey team); artistic organizations (the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band); and social support and network organizations (Sigma Epsilon Omega and the UC Gay & Lesbian Alumni Association).

Our efforts were aided and abetted by so many wonderful, talented performers. Five people emceed our events. Trauma Flintstone emceed a record five times for Girl Drink Drunk, a party that seems to have lived up to its name. Our other wonderful emcees have included Ethel Merman, Greg the Gay Sportscaster, Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, and Landa Lakes. Performers have included: Trauma Flintstone (six times); Ethel Merman and Garza Peru (three times each); Connie Champagne, Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, and Landa Lakes (twice each); and Artemis Chase, BeBe Sweetbriar, Cookie Dough, Donna Sachet, Holy McGrail, Janet Fly, Liliana Herrera, Litz "the Opera Lady" Plummer, Lucy Borden, Mercedes Monroe, Monistat, Nikki Starr, Pollo DelMar, Samantha Richards, Starr Monroe, and Steven Satyricon. We're delighted to have been able to mix drag with a little male flesh, we want to thank our strippers and go-go boys: Luca, Michael, Patrick, Stephen, and especially those who went all the way and showed everything: Danny Tagert, Elliot Tyler, Wes Brady, and Wolf Hudson. Our regular deejay, Jimmy Strano, who rocked the rafters and brought the police out on more than one occasion! And Zhenya, our favorite bartender.

None of this would have been possible without the expertise, equipment, and hard work of Richard Winchester, who managed the lighting and sound for our stage, and for the alcohol donated by our largest sponsor, Michael Daniels of Young's Market.

We were also involved with numerous events held outside of our home. The second Balls-Out Ball grew too big and was moved to Danz Haus, where we got to meet legendary Julie Brown and once again watch rugby boys get completely naked. We provided the alcohol for Community United Against Violence's "Bat Out of Hell" fundraiser in October. And to top it off, so to speak, we provided the new crown for Miss Trannyshack 2008: Pollo DelMar.

Special thanks are in order for Artemis Chase, whom we are so proud to represent us as our own Miss August in the AIDS Housing Alliance's annual Desperate Divas calendar. You are a credit and a tribute to our house.

Thank you, also, to the legions of volunteers who helped at every event, and to everyone who helped publicize our events: Sister Dana, Rink, Donna, Beven Shamel and Gloss Magazine, Jim Provenzano, Sister Roma, mr. Pam, and so many more too numerous to mention.

Finally, our end-of-year wrap-up couldn't be completed without a special word about our friend Danny Roddick, who starred in COLT Studio's film "Brotherhood" that was shot in our home, and who tragically passed away a week before the September release party. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Special thanks, too, to everyone else in the cast (Dean Phoenix, Jan Fischer, Trey Casteel, Justin Burkshire, Kurt Wild, Sebastian Rivers, Kevin Armstrong, Jorden Michaels, Dallas Reeves, and Tory Mason) and crew (Jerry Douglas, Kris Weston, Michael, Chuck, and so many, many more) who made the filming such an amazing, memorable experience.

Some highlights from the year...

Girl Drink Drunk - February 2

More...

Girl Drink Drunk - March 2

COLT Studio's "Brotherhood" filming

More...

Girl Drink Drunk - April 23

More...

Girl Drink Drunk - May 5

More...

Girl Drink Drunk - June 2

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Girl Drink Drunk - July 14

More...

Girl Drink Drunk - August 4

More...

Balls Out Ball 2007 - October 13

More...

Frat House for the Holidays - November 17

More...

As 2007 comes to a close, we look back marveling at what at amazing, crazy, chaotic experience it's been. Please raise a glass with us and toast to more adventures in 2008.

All the best,
   David, Jon, Kevin, and Tim

Don't miss out COMPLETELY NAKED rugby boys!

Last year, we had seven members of the San Francisco Fog rugby team strip completely naked in our garage for their Balls Out Ball charity fundraiser. And by completely naked, we assure you: it was full frontal, full monty, total nudity, no hiding the good stuff - the balls in this photo were dropped seconds after this picture was taken!

If you were there, you were part of the largest, most infamous fundraiser we've ever held. If you missed it, you'll want to be sure to attend Balls Out Ball 2007 - more naked boys doing the full monty, the first ever Rugby Ladies Burlesque, more bachelor date auctions ... oh, and did we mention the open bar???

Located at:

Danzhaus
1275 Connecticut Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Special Guest: Julie Brown
Featuring: Ethel Merman and Monistat

Order tickets at http://www.sffog.org/tickets

General Entry - $50 online, $80 door

• Fully stocked open bar from 6pm to 12am
• Men's Full Monty with new moves guaranteed to keep toungues wagging
• Our first ever Sexy Fog Ladies Burlesque Show
• Bachlor/ette Auction for your favorite rugger

VIP entry - $150 online, $180 door

• Top shelf open bar from 6pm to 12am
• Champagne service by our sexiest ruggers
• Amazing treats from Il Fornaio and others
• Gift bag with speciality items from our sponsors

Landa Lakes guest hosts July's Girl Drink Drunk

For our July Girl Drink Drunk (on Bastille Day, July 14!), we will have our usual assortment of drag queens and real girls, lip-synchers and live singers, and yes, male strippers too! But the one thing we won't have this time, unfortunately, is Mrs. Trauma Flintstone, who is spending the month accompanying Connie Champagne at the New Conservatory Theatre.

So instead, please welcome special guest femcee Landa Lakes, who performed at our very first Girl Drink Drunk last February.

Girl Drink Drunk!

This month's beneficiary is the SF Gold Diggers, our gay hockey team. This month's line-up includes:

• Special guest femcee Landa Lakes
• Ethel Merman
• Mercedes Monroe, Miss Gay San Francisco
• Samantha Richards
• and two hot male strippers!

And we haven't given up on trying to get some of the hockey boys to strip, too. Plus music by DJ Strano and an open bar sponsored by Michael Daniels of Young's Market. All for the usual low price of $20 in advance (through Frantix.net) or $25 at the door (630 Castro Street).

As usual, doors open at 7pm and performances begin around 8pm.

Girl Drink Drink 2 - March 3

Following the tremendous success of our first Girl Drink Drunk in February, the BGFH and Trauma Flintstone are so excited to announce the that it will return on March 3, 2007.

Girl Drink Drunk 2!

Featuring music with DJ Strano, dancing, amazing performances, and an open bar sponsored this month by Hangar One Vodka. These girl drinks are gonna be classy!

Each monthly Girl Drink Drunk will support a different charitable organization in the community. In March, we will be benefiting Project Open Hand, an organization that provides nutritious meals for those whose capacity has been limited by HIV/AIDS, catastrophic illness, and age.

This month will feature special guest performances from:

• Trauma Flintstone, our femcee

• Katya Ludmilla Smirnoff-Skyy, our reigning Queen of the Fairies

• Alotta Boutte
• and more to be announced soon...

We strongly encourage guests to buy tickets in advance through Frantix.net. Tickets aren't up as of this posting, should be online within a few days. The pre-sale tickets are so, so, so helpful for our planning process.

To get a sense of what GDD is all about, check out our official photo gallery from the first one in February. You can also scan through a more complete set on Flickr, or see another gallery on Rich Trove.

In addition, one of the volunteers at the last GDD did a video montage of highlights. Check it out below: