FINALLY, BAILE! Dang, this past February was a blur and a brrrrrrrrrrrrr. Remember that freeze that rolled in on that first Thursday and blanketed our usually sunny city for two days? Well, that next night was the night ALLGO had originally scheduled its annual dance/sizzle, Baile. But not even Baile with its saucy Latin humidity could melt the Ice Age of 2011. Needless to say, it was cancelled. Now April shall steam up the mirrors good and proper with the hot sweat of this 25-year tradition, not to mention the vibes of DJ Chorizo Funk. It’s been a while since we’ve shuffled our way over to one of these yearly fetes, and we hope our luck changes this year. Memory serves up serious reveries of people/dancer-watching and some lusciously salty eye candy. The atmosphere of the MACC should only serve to stoke more juicy, mango-flavored aphrodisiacal delights. (See Friday.)
HOW PROUD? Are you ready to talk about Pride? Are we? Meh. The traditional Austin Pride fest is held each year in the first weekend in June, as it has been for years. Decades. We’re just not sure that’s the case this year. The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation formed – to quote its most recent blog post, dated Feb. 7, 2011 – “to take on the task of putting on Austin’s annual Gay Pride Parade and Festival,” has released precious few official words about this year’s Pride. (And yeah, their press release really says “to take on the task.”) There have been plenty of rumors, though, and they’re oozing into the community like so much Fukushima radiation. The most persistent one that’s circulating regards a possible date change to autumn. After AGLPF’s uncomfortable manhandling of last year’s fest and parade, we’re not so giddy to venture into the belly of that beast to learn of their plot for 2011. As of press time, AGLPF remains silent.
This article appears in April 8 • 2011.