Gay Place: Merry Soxmas

Ebony Stewart

For regulars at Austin's beloved BedPost Confessions, the mere mention of the name Ebony Stewart issues waves and tidings of comfort and joy. The local educator and poet has been slamming words and healing hearts with her inimitable verbsmithery for the last few years all over town – most notably, friskily, and regularly at the BedPost. This holiday season, she's putting money where her mouth is, asking us to put our money where local needy feet are: in brand-new and gently used (freshly washed, please) socks! Operation: Sock Donation happens now through the end of the year. You can drop off a dozen or so of your most precious toe-socks (or even just a sweet, lone pair – no donation too small!) at BookWoman until New Year's Eve. (See first listing.)

ON OUR GAYDAR

OPERATION: SOCK DONATION Word warrior Ebony Stewart is collecting socks for the homeless! Go buy a coupla size 6-12 packs or find your most gently used (and wash them). Go to her FB and check out the event page for sock donations and sock it up. Drop off at BookWoman anytime between now and New Year's Eve. Deadline: Thu., Dec. 31. BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar Ste. 105-A, 512/472-2785. www.fb.com/ebony.stewart.7.

Free HIV/STD Testing Know your status. Get checked now! Make it a New Year's resolution to get checked regularly. Tuesdays, 1-4pm & 8-11pm; Fridays, 1-4pm. Midtowne Spa, 5815 Airport, 512/302-9696. www.midtowne.com.

DUELING DJS Kavika vs. Eriq Stylez. Fridays, 9pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 512/320-8823. Free.

CIRCUS FESTIVUS It's all the Festivus favorites, just up in the air: Feats of Strength! The Festivus Pole! Airing of Grievances! Battle the Head of Household in an epic pull-up contest! Sun., Dec. 27, 6-8pm. Ground Floor Theatre, 979 Springdale, 512/926-2203. $15, $10 in advance. www.fb.com/skycandystudiocompany.

LATIN NIGHT DJ Soto spins all the hits, hombre. Sundays, 9pm. Bout Time II, 6607 N. I-35, 512/419-9192. www.fb.com/bt2atx.

Planet Fabulous Karaoke 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, 512/482-8993. Free. roger@theironbear.com.

SISTER TEMPERANCE TAROT Perennial "Best of Austin"-ite Angeliska might just tell you what to look out for or forward to in the new year. Mon., Dec 28; sign-ups at 5pm, readings begin at 8pm. Hotel San Jose, 1316 S. Congress. Small donation for short readings. tarot@angeliska.com, www.sistertemperance.com.

GIRLS IN THE NOSE, HORSIES, JENNY & FRENZ No, sweetheart, you didn't wake up in 1994; it really is a double reunion of epic freak-band proportions. Come mingle in the space where these peeps originally played (le vaunted, beloved Chances). Come mix with your seniors, your sisters, your betters, and your misters. Never heard of 'em? Come learn. Know your history. Or be doomed to never be able to repeat its butt wiggle. Tue., Dec. 29, 8pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. www.fb.com/groups/girlsinthenose, www.fb.com/thehorsies.

TUEZGAYZ Dependably fruitastic: Austin's legendary weekly weekday gay night on Red River. Tuesdays, 9pm. Barbarella, 615 Red River, 512/476-7766. www.fb.com/barbarella.austin.9.

TRANSFORM W/ ERICA NIX Erica Nix's new workout digs is your community space to transform bodies, spirits, lives. Transform, 1909 Wheless, 512/923-5859. www.fb.com/transformfitnessaustin.

Big Freedia's NYE Get fready for one big azz New Year's with the Queen Diva. Thu., Dec. 31, 6pm. Mohawk, 912 Red River, 512/666-0877. www.bigfreedia.com.

NYE @ CUC Shake it down one last 2015 time against a backdrop of Total Unicorn 3-D vizualz, all set to the ear clang of Thelma & the Sleaze, Sailor Poon, Ramesh, the Sour Notes, Roses, Basketball Shorts, DJ GirlFriend (Ezra Edwards!) & DJ Side One Track One (John Laird!). Thu., Dec. 31, 7pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. $15, $5-10 in advance (pre-sale get priority at the door). www.fb.com/noplaymusic.

NYE PRE-PARTY PHOTO SHOOT Let Erica Nix document your cutest last look of 2015 before you head out to drag in the new. Thu., Dec. 31, 7pm. Transform, 1909 Wheless, 512/923-5859. $15. www.fb.com/transformfitnessaustin.

EFFERVESCENT NYE DJ Chino Casino spins the aural mise en scène at this free New Year's Eve party to make you sway into the new annum. Thu., Dec. 31, 8pm. Hotel San Jose, 1316 S. Congress, 512/852-2360. Free.

NEW YEAR'S EVE OCH Larry and the gang do it up right with this free fandango to bring in '16. Ice sculpture, drink specials, free champers, and confetti, yo. Thu., Dec. 31, 8pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 512/320-8823. Free.

THE BLACK & GOLD AFFAIR Austin's Finest and Austin's Party Scene bring in the new year with a masquerade ball. Sushi for everyone! Thu., Dec. 31, 8pm. V Nightclub, 409 Colorado, 512/450-3835. $30-50. www.austinsfinestnye.com, www.fb.com/vaustintx.

CIRQUE NOIR: NYE MASQUERADE Who are those masked mortals? Live music, aerial artists, and silent auction, all to raise some funds for our annual Pride. Thu., Dec. 31, 9pm-2am. Highland Lounge, 404 Colorado, 512/649-1212. $20; VIP $35. www.austinpride.org, www.highlandlounge.com.

HO-RIZON

A MIDWINTER NIGHT'S DREAM It's back! Austin's magical 12th Night celebration is back to light the night. Do you have your krewe together? Austin kicks off the Mardi Gras season with this wondrous procession (from Coco Coquette), coronation (vote online for a king and queen now!), and afterparty/ball (this year, at a new, lovely East Austin location to be revealed soon). Tue., Jan. 5, 8pm. Parade launch: Coco Coquette, 2109 E. Cesar Chavez; Ball location details coming soon. Parade: Free; Ball: $10-40, $10 limited online advance sale. www.12thnightaustin.com, www.fb.com/12thnightaustin.