Gay Place

SUDDENLY, LAST (OF) SUMMER

Splash is coming. You know what that means: thong, thong, thong, thong, thong.

ON OUR GAYDAR

HOOK'D & CHARITY DATE AUCTION Bid on some eye candy, all to benefit OutYouth. Thursdays, 10pm. Club Ambitious, 6700 Middle Fiskville, 832/878-4527. Free before 11pm; 21+, $5; 18-20, $10 after 11pm. chay@soe-ent.com, www.soe-ent.com.

USHINDI MEN Two nights a week in August, black gay men are invited to this open discussion exploring solutions. Wednesdays and Fridays in August, 6-8pm. ALLGO, 701 Tillery, 698-2911. Free. eubanksfacilitation@gmail.com.

STEAK NIGHT WITH KARI K Offer an affordable, juicy steak with all the fixin's, then get everyone to take their clothes off for an amateur strip off. Where's the beef? Fri., Aug. 24, 8-10pm. Lipstick24, 606 E. Seventh, 474-2950. $7, or $10 steak and 'rita deal.

BITCH BE COOL Free popsicles mitigate the dance-floor sweat stirred by DJs Honeycomb, Paul Perkins, and Young Breezy at this end-of-summer party to benefit Austin Harm Reduction Coalition. Sat., Aug. 25, 8pm-1am. Bernadette's, 2039 Airport. $5. www.austinharmreduction.org.

TICKLER The Lipstick gang is wrangling tickling and a Wild West theme into some sort of party. Just go with it. Sat., Aug. 25, 9pm-2am. Lipstick24, 606 E. Seventh, 474-2950. Free.

Q: 21ST CENTURY VAUDEVILLE Wigstock and RuPaul Christmas Special diva Sherry Vine comes to Austin to hostess performances by Head Over Heels Burlesque and a reunion of Small Stars (with The Voice's Nakia and Fastball's Miles Zuniga). Sat., Aug. 25, 10pm. Elysium, 705 Red River, 415-0280. $7. www.sherryvine.com.

DRAG BRUNCH Funny (ha ha) hosts Jason Jarman and Leah Chaney, and performers Sheena Simmons, Cupcake, Austin Baptist Women, Kari Hardwood, plus DJs Divorcee and Mary Coronado throw this fundraiser brunch for our upcoming, star-spangled Pride. Sun., Aug. 26, noon. Old School Bar & Grill, 401 E. Sixth, 722-6351. Free. www.dragbrunch.eventbrite.com.

IS THAT ME ON TV? Yes, and Q are adorable. Join ALLGO artist in rez Q. Ragsdale for a workshop to get you looking, sounding, presenting, and showing off your best in the digital age. Sun., Aug. 26, 1-4pm. ALLGO, 701 Tillery, 472-2001 x102. Free with pre-registration. priscilla@allgo.org, www.allgo.org, www.q-roc.tv.

BIG N' BANGIN BBQ GetEqual TX and the PFLAG will benefit from this delicious catering debut featuring barbecue, Chick 4 Gays sandwiches, options for vegetarians, and more. Sun., Aug. 26, 3:30-6:30pm. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth, 494-1150. Donations.

BOOKWOMAN BOOK GROUP This month: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Fourth Tuesdays, 7pm. BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar Ste. 105-A, 472-2785. Free. www.ebookwoman.com.

LIZZY CAROLOKE Wednesdays, 8pm-12mid. Bernadette's, 2039 Airport. Free.

QUEER RIDE Wednesdays, 7pm. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress, 305-8400. Free. www.facebook.com/AustinTPH.

SHITTY KITTY BIG BALL BINGO Ms. Rebecca Havemeyer may not be a chicken, but she sure can cluck. Drink cheap, win big. Last Wednesdays of the month, 9:30pm. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth, 494-1150.

HO-RIZON

AGENT RIBBONS RELEASE The Family Haircut cassette release was a teaser for this EP, which is a teaser for the upcoming 2013 LP. Who you callin' a tease? Sun., Sept. 2, 9pm. Cheer Up Charlie's, 1104 E. Sixth, 431-2133. www.agentribbons.bandcamp.com.

AIDS WALK AUSTIN Our march for love hits a 25-year stride this year. Sign up to walk now and start your fundraising early. Sun., Oct. 21, Opening ceremonies, 1:30pm; step-off, 2pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 406-6157. Free. www.asaustin.org.

AUSTIN PRIDE 2012 IS COMING! ...and it smells like Peaches. Early bird tickets on sale now! Watch this space! Sat., Sept. 22. Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia, 480-8318. www.facebook.com/Austin.PRIDE. Official: www.austinpride.org.

CAPITAL CITY MEN'S CHORUS GALA The CCMC boys say, "Let us 'Peel You a Grape'" at this fall fundraiser and season 24 kickoff. Enjoy food, wine, elegance, a silent auction, and of course, some tender tenors and booming baritones as you dine. Sat., Sep. 29, 6:45pm. Trinity United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway, 477-7464. $45. marketing@ccmcaustin.org, www.ccmcaustin.org.

DYKES ON BIKES RIDER SEARCH Dykes on trikes! Dykes on bikes! Dykes we like! Email Toby to get your motor runnin' in this year's Pride Parade. Sat., Sept. 22. tobysigle@rocketmail.com, www.dykesonbikes.org.

GOD-DES AND SHE/L/G RELEASE PARTY Last release of Austin L/G Steez before they go global. Or at least Texan. Sat., Sep. 1, 6pm. Spider House 29th St. Ballroom, 2906 Fruth, 480-9562. Free. www.god-des.com, www.lstylegstyle.com.

LAST SPLASH: GET WET Find a place in your thong for your legal Texas ID, cuz there'll be free drinks on them party barges. It's Lake Travis. It's the end of the summer. It's a billion near-naked queers in the holler of the hippie. And it's an American... well at least an Austin tradition. Sun., Sep. 2, all day. Hippie Hollow, 7000 Comanche Tr., 397-1463. Free.

PRIDE FLASH MOB Watch this space for upcoming details about a Pride Flash Mob! Dancers and uninhibited non-dancers encouraged! Sat., Sep. 22. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth, 494-1150.

SPLASH DAYS One entire weekend, including Splash Dance at Austin Music Hall, Adult Swim at Rain, Get Wet on Lake Travis, and High Tide closing party at Republic, all on one handy website. Advance tickets available at Tapelenders. Hippie Hollow during the day and in the clubs at night. Fri., Aug. 31- Sun., Sep. 2. Tapelenders Video, 1114 W. Fifth #201, 472-0844. Individual event tickets, $35-50; weekend VIP pass, $100 in advance, $120 Splash weekend. www.splashdays.com.