Gay Place: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

This Gay Place headline serves two masters: 1) There is a forehead-smackin' trinity of Bowie Birthday-related events this week (see Friday and Saturday), and 2) there is a slew of changes afoot for this here column, a column begun (with its attendant blog jumping in a few years later) just over a decade ago with the intent of presenting, in one easy package, a list of LGBTQ-affirming, -welcoming, -emboldening, and just plain ol' "of-gay-interest" events – safe spaces, if you will, for all folks in the LGBTQIA continuum (see next week).

ON OUR GAYDAR

DOWN & DIRTY STRIP-OFF It's a competitive, amateur taking-off of the clothes. Thursdays. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth.

HAPPY HOUR w/ MS. WRIGHT Simply the most diverse and friendly happy hour in Austin: old, young, hip, square, straight, LGBTQ, red-yellow-black-white-and-brown, and everybody, together in the warm twinkling glow of legendary piano wild woman, Ms. Margaret Wright. Thursdays & Fridays, 6-8pm. The Skylark Lounge, 2039 Airport. Free. www.fb.com/theskylarklounge.

THROUGH THE DOOR OF LIFE "A Jewish Journey Between Genders" is the subhead/kicker to this author visit, exploration, and booksigning, moderated by Rabbi Amy Cohen. Thu., Jan. 7, 7pm. JCAA Jewish Community Center, 7300 Hart. $10 suggested donation to go to JCC LGBTQ programs.

PATRICE PIKE Take a hike, and see the Pike. Thursdays, 8-10pm. Saxon Pub, 1320 S. Lamar. www.fb.com/patricepikeband.

STRIPPER CIRCUS Go ahead. Step right up, and hum "I'm in Love With a Stripper" all the way home. Thursdays, 10pm-3am. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth.

FREE HIV/STD TESTING Know your status. Tuesdays, 1-4pm & 8-11pm & Fridays, 1-4pm. Midtowne Spa, 5815 Airport. www.midtowne.com.

FREE BUFFET It's about time someone served up some yummy free grub to soak up all those drink specials. Tuesdays & Fridays, 5-7pm. Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-35. Free. www.fb.com/bt2atx.

FRIDAY NIGHT LADIES NIGHT Join Lesbutante and the Bo$$ for VIP upstairs with private bartender: Girls With Flair! Second Fridays, 9pm. Highland Lounge, 404 Colorado. Free, $10 VIP. www.fb.com/lesbutante.andtheboss.

BOWIE BIRTHDAY BASH Bowiefy yourself (dress to impress) and spin out w/ DJ Sue Purr. Fri., Jan. 8, 10pm. Drinks Lounge, 2001 E. Cesar Chavez. Free.

FREE WEEK: HAIL YASSS: THE MAN WHO 69'd THE WORLD The Poops fall to Earth and get all Thin White Dukey. Fri., Jan. 8, 10pm. Elysium, 705 Red River. Free. www.fb.com/poopooatx.

FREE WEEK: SHIVERY SHAKES, THE SOUR NOTES, MEAN JOLENE Come have some 'cue with Lou during Free Week. Fri., Jan. 8, 10pm. Lamberts, 401 W. Second.

Fierce Fab Fridays Come on in and take a dip with Nadine Hughes and a sassy pool full of queens. Fridays, 10:30pm. Highland Lounge, 404 Colorado. Free. www.highlandlounge.com.

BIG BOY YOGA Hey, hey, Boo Boo, is your yogi a bear? Come Hatha flow with the handsome, gingerly JohnMark and modifications for big bodies (big bois, ladybears, et al.). Saturdays, 10:30am. Yoga Illumined, 3801 S. Congress, 512/645-0434. $10 class, $30 unltd. monthly. www.fb.com/groups/bigboiyoga.

ELVIS/BOWIE B-DAY To quote one astute commenter on the CUC FB event page: "You ain't nothin' but a diamond dog ...." Featuring Walker Lukens & the Side Arms, Milezo, Lord Buffalo, MCG, and Velo. Sat., Jan. 9, 8pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River.

BPM DJ BigFace and Boys of ATX make you dance. Saturdays, 9pm. Highland Lounge, 404 Colorado. Free.

DEEP INSIDE WITH THE CARRY NATION Legendary NYC DJs with opening sets by Mouthfeel and Dylan Reece and visuals by La Roncha. Sat., Jan. 9, 10pm. The Iron Bear, 121 W. Eighth.

FREE WEEK: RINGO DEATHSTARR Plus, Boyfrndz, My Education, Residual Kid, Megafauna, Think No Think, and On Delay. Sat., Jan. 9, 10pm-2am. Sidewinder, 715 Red River.

HIGHLAND SUNDAY FUNDAY It's an afternoon filled with Absolute Brunch and ADA Hold 'Em. Sundays. Highland Lounge, 404 Colorado. Free. www.highlandlounge.com.

PRIME TIMERS ¡Hola, Papi! Mature gay men meet monthly. Sun., Jan. 10, 3pm. Atria at the Arboretum, 9306 Great Hills Trail. Free. www.austinptww.org.

LATIN NIGHT DJ Soto spins all the hits. Sundays, 9pm. Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-35. www.fb.com/bt2atx.

PLANET FABULOUS Karaoke's grande dame is back and humpin' for Hump Days and Sundays at the 'Bear. Wednesdays, 9:30pm. The Iron Bear, 121 W. Eighth. Free. www.theironbear.com.

TUEZGAYZ Dependably fruitastic: Austin's legendary weekly weekday gay night on Red River. Tuesdays, 9pm. Barbarella, 615 Red River. www.fb.com/barbarella.austin.9.

GREASY BALL BINGO "Greasy" as in doughnuts (not deez nuts). Getcher balls out of the gutter! This is the new location of the twice-a-month BINGO fundraiser for Austin Pride hosted by Lady Grackle Birdbreath & Cupcake. Second Tuesdays, 7pm. Gourdough's Public House, 209 W. Fifth. www.austinpride.org.

HO-RIZON

PRETTY WITCHES Join Corinne, the mastermind behind Big Dick's House of Big Boobs for this healthy, safe, positive ladies-only (except for DJ Boyfriends ... drrrrp), no-alcohol dance party. Dress to dance like you're in the club, not the yoga-pants party (this ain't no Nia, no offense ...). Sat., Jan. 16, 8pm. Indra's Awarehouse, 7904 FM 969, 512/200-2781. $10 presale only. www.prettywitchesatx1.bpt.me.

LAVERNE COX The divine one shall speak and represent some lovely authenticity. Fri., Jan. 22, 8pm. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress. $40-50. www.lavernecox.com.

FUR•NIGHT•ATX Well, lookee here, li'l pets: Austin's first big out furry dance! All things fuzzy and plushy convene at BT2 once a month for this 21+ dance party to let the fur fly. Resident DJ Edgewise Griffon. Sat., Jan. 23, 8pm. Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-35, 972/979-1799. $5 suggested donation. [email protected], www.furnightatx.com, www.fb.com/furnightatx, www.fb.com/bt2atx.

OUTSIDER 2016 Last February, OUTsider stepped into the world of Austin's robust festival culture and (inter)national LGBTQ gatherings, knocking folks out with their gay wax museum and confoundingly enthralling performance art. This year's legacy goes to Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens. Wed.-Sun., Feb. 17-21. www.outsiderfest.org.