Folks, you read it here first. It helps to have sources inside the entertainment industry.
(Well, actually, to be married to a source inside the entertainment industry.)
UPDATE: Some news stories have now appeared. Here’s a link to one such.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: Eyedrum swells with visitors during a recent art opening for Tweet Design's second annual Day of the Dead show on Oct. 23.
It’s appropriate for Eyedrum that, even when discussing such a mundane subject as financial viability, the arts organization’s board chairman, Allen Welty-Green, speaks in terms of colors.
“Using the threat advisory scale, I’d say we were code red in July, then orange, and now we’re down to yellow,” he says. “Sometimes it takes a crisis to give you a wake-up call.”
Welty-Green is referencing Eyedrum’s mid-year near-death experience, when the organization found itself unable to scrape together enough money to pay rent — again. At the time, the board issued an S.O.S. in the form of a press release titled “Eyedrum may soon call it quits,” which threatened the potential “demise of Atlanta’s longest-running alternative art and music space.”
But that was then.
Continue Reading “All eyes on Eyedrum”
(Photo by Alan Friedman)
Come closer, children of the night and let me tell of two, TWO dark and spoooky events taking place this weekend that will be certain to please your inner undead child.
Friday night brings you The Vampire’s Ball from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at The Spot, 502 Amsterdam Ave. Admission is $10, but only 21 and up. The evening promises “themed drink specials all night long. Halloween decor and fun giveaways.” That doesn’t sound very creepy. What about human sacrifices and a blood-guzzling contest?
Next up, on Saturday is the Secretroom Halloween Fetish Party at The Jungle (aka the old Chamber), 2115 Faulkner Road. There’ll be haunted DJs, go-go dancers, performances by fetish queen Rubber Doll and a Sexiest Halloween Costume Contest with a grand prize of $500. Admission is $15 for guys and for girls 18-21, and $10 for girls over 21.
All this kink and it isn’t even Halloween yet!
Noon today is the kick-off of Anime Weekend Atlanta (actually, it’s in Smyrna, but who’s quibbling?). The three-day confab bills itself as “the Southeast’s premier Japanese animation convention,” with video rooms, dealers room, costume contest, panels, workshops, artist alley and a formal ball.
Apart from that, I can’t tell you much about it because I’m not up on my anime terminology. There are numerous workshops focused on different aspects of “cosplay,” which Wikipedia tells me is “costume roleplaying,” but I still don’t know what that entails.
Suffice it to say, the Renaissance Waverly Hotel and the Cobb Galleria Centre is likely to be filled this weekend with young women dressed like Japanese schoolgirls, which can hardly be considered a bad thing. In fact, the event offers this disclaimer for parents:
While AWA is known as a “Family Friendly” convention, our event is not geared towards very young children. Some of the animated titles presented at AWA contain mature content and may be considered too violent or offensive. Some late night video programming (after 12:00 am) will contain adult anime titles. Video rooms showing these titles will restrict minors from entering. Some retailers in the Dealers Room will also be selling adult titles.
Also, the Syrens of the South burlesque troupe is scheduled to perform, although I can’t figure out when.
A three-day ticket is $45 and registration is going on now.
We’re the hometown of Hooters and the strip-club capital of the South, yet Atlanta has not been included among the seven cities invited to go topless this Sunday by GoTopless.org, which bills itself as “a US organization, claiming that women have the same constitutional right to be bare chested in public places as men.”
Hmm, that certainly sounds like a persuasive argument to me. Tell me more, GoTopless:
Gotopless claims constitutional equality between men and women on being topless in public. Currently, women who dare to be topless in public in the US are repeatedly being arrested, fined, humiliated, criminalized. On SUNDAY AUGUST 23RD, 2009, topless women will rally in great numbers across the USA to protest this gross inequality in the law and will demand that they be granted the fundamental right to be topless where men already enjoy that right according to the 14th amendment of the Constitution.
Yes, I believe I’d heard that argument articulated by the eminent legal scholar Dita Von Teese. But why should women advocate for this inalienable right?
GoTopless is committed to helping women perceive their breasts as noble, natural parts of their anatomy (whether they are nursing or not). Breasts shouldn’t have to be “modestly” or shamefully hidden from public view any more than arms, legs or feet.
The losing entries
The You’ve heard of a wet T-shirt contest? Well, this seems to be a no-T-shirt contest.
Trapeze swingers club off Fulton Industrial Boulevard is hosting a “designer breast” contest on Wednesday night. Here’s the come-on:
Ladies, enter the Trapeze Breast parade at 11:15 to win a FREE weekend pass to Trapeze. Paint them, bead them, feather them, whatever it takes to win.
The website doesn’t say what judging criteria will be employed. How many points for originality? Does size matter? Is there any advantage in being, say, smokin’ hot? We’re guessing someone will be making up on the rules on the fly.
Otherwise, it sounds like a perfectly enchanting affair. But be warned, Trapeze is not a swingers-themed nightclub. Nor is it swinging-lite. It’s a full-on swingers lifestyle club. That said, you don’t have to engage in hanky-panky — they have a dance floor, an indoor pool and a BYOB lounge, so you could spend the evening people-watching.
On the other hand, as at all lifestyle clubs, admission is steep — $35 per couple on Wednesdays, plus a membership fee — so you may feel cheated if you go home without having partaken in a few sins of the flesh.
The new movie The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, starring Jeremy Piven as a fast-talking used-car dealer, will receive a proper opening night at Atlanta’s own Starlight Six Drive-In this Thursday, with an evening of burlesque and hot rod mayhem.
Entertainment will include performances by Syrens of the South Burlesque, a hot rod car show, live music, a junk yard car smash and a car wash, courtesy of scantily clad ladies. Oh, and of course, the aforementioned film. The events begin at 7:30 p.m., the movie at 9:30 p.m.
To gain entry to this special event, you must RSVP by 2 p.m. Wednesday by sending an email to this address. One car per RSVP, s’il vous plait.
OK, last night I finally went to one of the Plaza’s monthly showings of The Room, a 2003 independent film that has become a cult sensation and the most recent contender for the title of the worst movie ever made.
How bad is it? It’s gloriously, resplendently, wonderfully bad. And I loved every minute of it. The Room is the only movie I’ve seen that honestly lives up to the billing of being “so bad it’s good.” That’s because it was made with the kind of old-fashioned ineptitude that’s impossible to fake. Every aspect of this film is god-awful: the nonsensical dialogue, the excrutiating acting, the laughable soft-core sex scenes, the in-and-out-of-focus camerawork, the disappearing plot points.
The focal point of the film is star/director/writer/producer Tommy Wiseau, whom Curt Holman has previously, and quite accurately, described as looking like “the kind of mob henchman Jean-Claude Van Damme would kick in the face in the first reel.” Wiseau’s Johnny is caught in a love triangle with his “future wife,” Lisa, who’s having an affair with pretty-boy Mark, whom, we’re frequently reminded, is Johnny’s best friend.
Leaving The Room, I had many questions:
The annual Skin Two fetish parties are the social events of the season for Atlanta’s goth crowd, and this year should be no exception.
First up, on Friday, is the Fantasy Masquerade Ball at BAMartspace at 1540 Monroe Drive. The 21-and-up event is from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. The $20 cover includes complimentary drinks and snacks. Since little is being promoted in the way of entertainment, we assume the main attraction is the living freak show provided by your fellow patrons. Our suggestion: Dress to distress.
Oh, and apparently, guests must RSVP in advance.
On Saturday is the main event, the evocatively titled Medical Fetish Ball at the Jungle (aka the old Chamber) at 2115 Faulkner Road off Cheshire Bridge Road. The evening is hosted by the Secret Room, which has outdone itself in booking attractions:
Atlanta striptease superstar Calu, formerly of Doll Squad fame, headlines a burlesque extravaganza this Saturday at Smith’s Olde Bar. Also appearing will be the ladies of Blast Off Burlesque, Vagina Jenkins and other noted exotic performers.
Doors open at 9 p.m. and audience members can take part in a raffle to win “naughty prizes.” Musical guests include the El Caminos and Slim Chickens. Tickets are $12 advance.
Is it that time already? ‘Fraid so, gentle woodland creatures. Yes, Atlanta Bear Fest is, um, upon us again (sorry about that visual).
No, we’re not talking about the furry mammals famed for shitting in the woods. Rather, this is a weekend-long event geared to hairy, burly men and the guys who love them. Activities include a pool party, BBQ dinner, cigar session, field trips to the Eagle and the can’t-miss event — a calendar photo shoot for Bear magazine.
The site is the Courtyard Northlake Marriott at 4083 LaVista Road in Tucker. The special guest is Bear cover model Rich McGunn, pictured at right. The weekend kicks off tonight with a meet-and-greet pizza party.
But what if you’re skinny and smooth? Not to worry:
Not a bear? Not a problem! Come as you are. Southern Bears wants everyone to be able to become familiar with the bear scene. As long as you’re friendly, fun and ready to have a ball, you are more than welcome! Come join us for 4 days of lazy fun and fur hosted by the friendliest bear club in the South.
There, doesn’t that relieve any misgivings you might have had about attending this friendly and fun-filled event? Just don’t blame us if you end up with a mouthful of pelt.
Longtime Atlantans fondly remember the days in the late ’80s when RuPaul was queen of the city’s genderfuck scene, performing in and out of drag with such bands as Wee Wee Pole and Now Explosion, appearing regularly on public-access TV, and starring in underground videos and low-budget movies. After moving to New York and making it big with “Supermodel (You Better Work)” and his own VH1 talk show, RuPaul Andre Charles continued to release albums, such as this year’s Champion, and make appearances in TV shows and films. He’ll soon start his second season hosting “Drag Race” on cable’s Logo network, a reality show in which contestants compete to be named the country’s top drag queen. RuPaul will appear at Primal Atlanta on June 25 at a fundraiser for the Atlanta Cotillion, which benefits AID Atlanta.
On “Drag Race,” you often appear in street clothes when talking to contestants. Is there any potential harm to a drag queen’s public image to be seen out of drag?
Appearing out of drag was to show my authority as an expert. If I didn’t appear out of drag, it would undermine my authority. I’ve appeared in and out of drag in movies and television for years. If I’d been smart, I wouldn’t have used my real name when I started my career in Atlanta 27 years ago. But I don’t think there are any real pitfalls with appearing out of drag.
Continue reading “Speakeasy with RuPaul”
(Photo by Mathu Andersen)
No, we’re not talking about the teen singing group on the Disney Channel.
These are the Cheetah Girls for grown-ups. Tonight, the Cheetah hosts the Battle of the Cheetah Girls, its annual exotic dance-off between its house entertainers. A panel of “judges” will determine the winner based on creativity, sensual presentation and audience response — basically how many bills they collect in their garters. Which means you, as an onlooker, can help sway the results by stuffing said garters. The press release says there will be thousands of dollars in prizes. Not for you — for the girls.
So, does this sound like an artificial competition/marketing ploy designed to siphon off more of your money?
Hey, you gotta problem with that? Certainly, it’s no more contrived than an episode of “The Millionaire Matchmaker” and a hell of a lot more fun to watch. You can even visit the website beforehand to learn more about the girls who’ll be competing. For instance, Violette, a hazel-eyed brunette, “loves dancing, video games, painting and reading. She is intolerant of thieves, liars, ignorance and the non-conversational.” And, judging from her photos, it appears she has all her original parts.
The battle begins at 8 p.m. on the main stage, but grab your perch early because there’s no reserved seating. The host is Mike Bell of 790 The Zone.
The folks at Secretroom are holding what they’re calling a Hellraiser Horror party Saturday at the Jungle Club off Cheshire Bridge Road. The event will feature a “flesh + fire” fashion show by AMF Korsets, fetish-themed tomfoolery and various DJs spinning industrial sounds.
The “fun” begins at 10 p.m. and lasts till 3 a.m. The event is 18-and-up; cover is $15. The club is at 2115 Faulkner Road.
