SOMEONE’S IN THE CHILL SPACE WITH DINAH! We loved that back in 2006, when Human Rights Campaign-Austin launched its first exclusive women’s event, then-newcomer Lynn Yeldell named it the Dinah Lakeshore party. The inaugural party name-checked, but had nothing to do with, the famous all-out lezbo circuit weekend that happens every spring out in Palm Springs. This is funny, because the Palm Spings party name-checks the Dinah Shore Classic (an annual LPGA golf tourney) but has little to do with golf. (The classic itself was named for post-war torch singer, Seventies talk-show host, and Burt Reynolds-girlfriend Dinah Shore, whom the Gay Place adores.) The Austin Dinah added the word “lake” because some handsome and generous dudes with a lake house provided the venue, but it, like the Palm Springs fest, had nothing to do with golf. Austin’s Dinah Lakeshore party tried to have something to do with golf last year, but lack of interest had HRC chirping “bye-bye, birdie!” and the clubs were hung in the caddyshack for good. This year, Dinah’s name is trimmed down to just Dinah to reflect its new, nonlakeside site, the Hummingbird House, a lovely retreat and wedding venue out in the hills just south of Austin, owned by the Great Outdoors folks. My Style Avatar (a one Mr. S. McMoz, also my pal) had gushed about the place, as he is wont to do when places tickle his fancy. So we were excited when Katy from HRC and Kitty from Foodies invited Gay Place (as in, me) to check out the space and to consider DJ’ing for a “chill” area. It’s not a room, per se, but an open deck behind the house that overlooks the gorgeous pool, and it is going to be the perfect spot to resurrect DJ L’Air du Temps: Music To Make Out By. We are chuffed to be joining the roster of badass dance DJ Amerykah, who will be spinning women into a frenzy under a beautiful tented dance floor lined with cooling misters (mist, not as in dudes) and dappled with thousands of twinkling fairy lights wrapped around the trunks of the palms that grace the space. If you are a lady who likes the laydeeez, please come to Dinah! Ticket price includes a full-year membership in HRC, free nosh and drinkies, and all the atmosphere you can handle. Personally, DJ L’Air du Temps requests your presence. (See Saturday.)
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This article appears in September 10 • 2010.