Gay Place

Like a Texas rainstorm, when it rains it f*ckin' pours. There's not a day passing this week that isn't filled with some quirky queerness. As always, the second Friday of the month gets ladies a night dancing with Lesbutante & the Boss, while Mouthfeel hosts an evening for first-time drag queens to strut their stuff. GirlFriend packs in a night of Nineties and Aughts pop rocks for Saturday's Middle School Dance Party, and don't forget to werk those sea legs for Black Pride's boat party on Sunday. But, perhaps the week's biggest novelty: The Gay Softball World Series lands in Austin this year and balls start flying and LHBs will be batting come Monday. Expect 180 to 200 teams, afterparties, opening-night parties, and the cutest sporty queers this side of the Mississippi. Batter up!

GAYDAR

Spit Mask, JT Whitfield, Amulets, Private Service, Future Blondes, & Scorpio Get dark. Neu wave. Dark disco. Underground dance. Black lipstick optional. Thu., Aug. 11, 9pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. Free. www.fb.com/niteschoolatx.

The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Reading & BookSigning with Kristen Hogan Austin author Kristen Hogan talks queer anti-racist feminist strategies that bookwomen created. Get inspired. Fri., Aug. 12, 7pm. Resistencia Bookstore, 4926 E. Cesar Chavez. Free. www.resistenciabooks.com.

Butch Queen Freshen up that lipstick, ladies, these Butch Queens are first-time draggers and they're looking to get lit. Louisianna Purchase hosts, with music by Dylan Does Drag. Fri., Aug. 12, 10pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. $5. www.fb.com/mouthfeelatx.

Youth Rise Presents: Freedom Rise – Together We Stand, Together We Stay #StayWoke – the teens of Youth Rise Texas share their hopes and dreams for a changed world in multimedia performance. Get wowed. Stay woke. Sat., Aug. 13, 6-8:30pm. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover, 512/452-6168. $0-10. www.youthrisetx.org.

Ignitor, Butch County, and Clyde It's an end-of-summer rock out (only two months before summer ends in Texas). But let's all pretend. Sat., Aug. 13, 8pm. Hole in the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe, 512/302-1470.

WhatsInTheMirror? presents: A Night of Love Give love. Get love. #SpreadLove. A night of art, performance, and vibrant community. Sat., Aug. 13, 8pm. Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th, 512/291-6211. www.whatsinthemirror.org.

Middle School Dance Party If you wanna be my lover, you better spice up your life with GirlFriend's MSDP. All Nineties and Aughts, all night. Sat., Aug. 13, 10pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. www.girlfriendatx.co.

Austin Black Pride Boat Party Get on the boat (or in the water) with Austin Black Pride. It's an end of summer shebang for ATX's QPOC and allies. Before departure ABP is collecting donations of school supplies – the more you donate the more you can drink (for free). Sun., Aug. 14, 3-6:30pm. Riviera Marina, Volente. $22-24. www.austinblackpride.com.

The Love Leighs, The Harms, Fun Button, Johnny Dioxide Merry musicmaking in the daytime hours. All ages welcome. Drink specials flowing. Sun shining. Sun., Aug. 14, 4pm. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River, 512/431-2133. $3 suggested donation. www.cheerupcharlies.com.

Predicament Bondage with Jake Wing If you can't stand the heat, take it to the bedroom. This bondage workshop offers a glimpse into one of the most creative forms of sadism. Bring a mat! Sun., Aug. 14, 6:30-9pm. Q Toys, 6800 Burnet Rd., 512/772-1614. Donations welcome. www.qtoysaustin.com.

Cinema East Wind down your weekend with Cinema East's second screening of the season: Goodnight Brooklyn: The Story of Death by Audio. Director Matt Conboy will Q&A after. Picnics, pups, and Prosecco welcome. Sun., Aug. 14, doors 7pm, film 9pm. Secret Theatre, 1145 Perry. $5-7. www.fb.com/cinemaeast.

Rave of Thrones featuring DJ Kristian Nairn aka Hodor Hold. The. Door. GoT's most gay actor (aka the beloved Hodor) is turning the music up to keep winter away. Sun., Aug. 14, 9pm-2am. Kingdom Nightclub, 103 E. Fifth, 512/522-0116. $40-45. www.fb.com/kristian-nairn.

Gay Softball World Series This year the 40th anniversary of the NAGAAA World Series comes to Austin! It's five days of sporty fun, built boi/ys, and LHB. See website for full lineup of events. Mon.-Sat. Various locations. Price varies per event. www.austingsws2016.org.

#MCM aka Man Crush Monday Single and lookin' to mingle, boys? Make yer way to the W's newest weekly, #MCM. A singles "mix & match" event for men. Equality Vodka is a sponsor which means cheap vodka drinks aplenty! Mondays, 7-10pm. Living Room Bar at the W Hotel, 200 Lavaca, 512/542-3600. Free, but please RSVP. www.whotelaustin.com/mcm.

CineNoche Presents: Amores Urbanos Presented by the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, this award-winning Portuguese film follows the lives of three besties with queer love drama. Aug. 16, 7pm; Aug. 21, 11am. Violet Crown Cinema, 434 W. Second, 512/495-9600. $11. www.cinelasamericas.org.

aGLIFF's presents: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar What a night for the classics. Join aGLIFF and the Alamo for an evening of Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo in drag. Wed., Aug. 17, 7:30pm. Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, 1120 S. Lamar, 512/861-7040. $10. www.agliff.org.

GAYLY AHEAD

Austin Pride 2016 Pride is coming. Werk Fashion Show: Sat., Aug. 20. Festival and parade: Sat., Aug. 27. Aug. 20-27. $13-125. www.austinpride.org.

Plezzure Island That's right ladiez (and gents mayhaps) – it's the first (and only) all-grrrl resort takeover to hit the Texas coast. Get yer swimsuits packed for pool party adventures and sleepover daydreams. Thu.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 2. Hilton Galveston Island Resort. $200. www.plezzureislandtexas.com.