Gay Place: Hop, Bop, Shop

For good causes or simply to connect with cuties. Events over the next few weeks offer muy shopportunites for you to procure gifts with a conscience and keep the money in your queermunity.

ON OUR GAYDAR

RAINBOW NIGHT Keep the rainbow glow flowing in San Marcos. Drag show, special guests, and happy, happy family. First Thursdays, 9:30pm. Fullmoon Saloon, 16480 S. Hwy 123, San Marcos. www.facebook.com/rainbownight.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS Count on lots of "laughter through tears" and way more than "30 minutes of wonderful" at this Austin take on a Southern classic. Dec. 5-22, Thu.-Sat., 8pm; Sundays, 5:30pm. City Theatre, 3823-D Airport, 512/524-2870. $15-20, front row $25. Thursday, all seats $10. www.citytheatreaustin.org.

LAST LADY PARTY OF THE YEAR Girlfriend! Don't miss this. Girlfriend rips through the best of the vs. series, featuring divas Katy, Gaga, Minaj, Madge, Justin, Usher, and more. Especially Queen Bey. Thu., Dec. 5, 10pm. Cheer Up Char­lie's, 1104 E. Sixth. www.girlfriendatx.com.

PROJECT NUNWAY There is only one way: the nun way. Austin gaylebrities get an homage or a skewer (in the drag community, often the same thing) as designers create local looks we all know/love/tolerate, all for Project Transitions. Fri., Dec. 6, 10pm. Elysium, 705 Red River. $10. www.facebook.com/WeirdCitySisters.

SABADO GIGANTE Queer Qumbia, La Pulgita, Cafe Rebelde, Son Armado, and Authentx Arts Network present this celebration of community. Sat., Dec. 7, 10am. See Facebook for address. Free. www.facebook.com/qumbiaqrewatx, www.axanaustin.com, www.facebook.com/sonarmado.

ANALY'S GARAGE SALE Artist Analy is doing the big pre-move purge, and that includes an array of her amazing art. Prints for sale that sound like handsome holiday honorariums to us. Sat., Dec. 7, 2pm. See Facebook for location. www.facebook.com/Analy.Artist.

CCMC: SILVER MEMORIES Meet at the site where Capital City Men's Chorus held their first concert and celebrate the holidays at this, their silver gala. Sat., Dec. 7, 7:30pm; Sun., Dec. 8, 3pm. St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th. $25. www.ccmcaustin.org.

GIRLS ON FILM: A TRIBUTE TO WILLEM DUNHAM Fundraiser and community gathering for beloved burlesque supporter and photographer Will Dunham. Silent auction and more. Sat., Dec. 7, 10pm. El Sol y la Luna, 600 E. Sixth. $20, $15 in advance. www.brownpapertickets.com.

AUSTIN WRITERGRRLS BOOK FEST Poets! Writers! Authors! Grrrrlz! Oh, and books, books, books. Great way to knock out some holiday shopping while supporting the sistahhood. Sun., Dec. 8, 4-6pm. BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar. Free. www.facebook.com/bookwomanaustin.

DJ PROTEGE'S FIRST AID Heal what ails ye and shake before serving. Sundays, 5-10pm. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth. Free. www.rainon4th.com/events.html.

SUNDAY CHURCH Althea Trix wants to get an AMEN. And some men. Burlesque, drag, and a Champagne train. PREACH! Sundays, 6-9pm. Castro's Warehouse, 213 W. Fourth. Free.

ALEXIS MATEO FROM RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE From Puerto Rico, from Florida, from RuPaul, with love. Sun., Dec. 8, 10:30pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth. Free. www.facebook.com/alexis.mateo.37.

AGLCC TOASTMASTERS Our local gay chamber of commerce is home to one of the country's fastest-growing LGBT Toast­master groups. Come buff up those public speaking and communication muscles. Second & fourth Mondays, 5:45pm. Ballet Austin, 501 W. Third. www.aglcc.org.

STAND WITH TEXAS DISCO Thank all the Lilith Fund hotline volunteer hotties while you rooooollllll, bounce! Rrrrrock, skate! Kids welcome with adults. Mon., Dec. 9, 7:30-9:30pm. Ticket & location info online. $10. www.facebook.com/lilithfund, www.rally.org/txdiscoparty.

STONEWALL DEMS ENDORSEMENT MEETING So many Dems to endorse. Who will they/you choose? Stick around for happy hour after. Wed., Dec. 11, 6pm. Third Base, 1717 W. Sixth, 512/476-2273. Free. www.facebook.com/StonewallAustin.

MISTLETOE MADNESS LESBIAN HAPPY HOUR This event is listed as public on FB with not one lick of info, except location, date, and time. So, we asked, and the answer was that it is a "happy hour for the lesbians of Austin to get together." OK! Wed., Dec. 11, 6-9pm. Chicago House, 607 Trinity.

PFLAG SOUTH MONTHLY MEETING Family is nice; allied family is love. PFLAG represents the best of our community. Second Thursdays, 6:30-9pm. Faith Presbyterian Church, 1314 E. Oltorf. Free.

The Rainbow Connection Hey, gays! Jitterbug at 6pm. Two Step at 7pm. Then test out your new skills, 8-10pm. First Thursdays, 6-10pm. Uptown Dance Studio, 8868 Research #706, 512/459-5678. $5-15, cash only. austinuptowndance@att.net, www.austinuptowndance.com.

HO-LIDAY GIVING

BLUE CHRISTMAS APD & BTII will have a bluuuuuuuue Christmas with or without you, but geeez, it would be so much nicer with you. Bring a toy! A nice one, not a naughty one (and certainly not a used one) as these are for kids. And we don't mean twinks, daddy. Toy donation drop-off: Dec. 5-14. Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-35. www.facebook.com/BoutTimeII.

THE GLENN EADDY TOY DRIVE C'mon you silly ol' bears (and otters and others), bring a stuffed fluff o' luv or some other new toy, gift card, or cash donation, and join Glenn in his annual drive to brighten the seasons of kids living with HIV/AIDS. Donations accepted through mid-December. The Iron Bear, 121 W. Eighth.