Milk: Summer Underground

Ari of Milk: Summer Underground, Cincinnati's weekly party that focuses on the music rather than the party, has been asking me to say something about the even since it began, and, though I started off posting announcements, I have done little else to support it. I went tonight, the first time all summer I've had a chance to, and had a great time.

Milk has had a bit of drama in the last few weeks. It moved its location from Below Zero to Little Bit, and I was sure that it would die. However, word had it that last week's event was huge and made for a packed house at Little Bit's. Once upon a time, Little Bit's was one of my favorite bars in the world, though I have not had the opportunity to enjoy as much as I should have, though it's the only LGBTQ bar I could feasibly walk home from. And it is the only LGBTQ bar left in Clifton -- sigh.

I will say this: for everything else I might criticize, Ari plays some great music. It's an unexpected break from the usual. Jazz, a little bit of pop, some hip-hop. It's both unexpected and delicious. In the two hours I spent there, I heard everything from Billie Holliday to Madonna... and who couldn't appreciate that kind of diversity? The crowd was distinctly smaller than the

week before. but still busy. I didn't see Irene -- one of the three owners and recently returned to the bar full time (a fact I am very grateful for) -- stop moving behind the bar except for a few brief moments the entire time I was there. A handful of cute gay boys even made an appearance, as well as some of the cast of Cincinnati Opera's Carmen.

The only true complaint is that the music, for the size of the crowd, was too loud. However, had there been more people, it would have been the perfect volume.

Milk: Summer Underground occurs every Thursday night at Little Bit's Bar on Vine Street.

STUPID JOKE SATURDAY!

Meet Old Jews Telling Jokes, probably the most descriptive blog title in the world. That's exactly what it is... old Jews telling jokes. I have officially watched every single one posted and am excited about the return of new videos this coming week!

Thanks to Ari of MILK: Summer Underground for the heads up.

Massive Community Calendar Update

We are less than two weeks out from Pride, and I realized... I have absolutely nothing on here about Pride events! And then I went searching, and well... I'm keeping my mouth shut.  For the next two weeks, here are some amazing things going on!


Flash Action! Queer folks are heading (back) out to Maineville this evening (6/2 at 9:00pm) to stand in solidarity against hate at Tabby's American Grill, where an alleged hate crime occurred last week! We've gotten some positive response from the bar, and we're looking to stand with them and make this a peaceful queer bomb! Check out the coverage we got at Towleroad!

Milk: Summer Underground returns tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd. Cincinnati's experiment in fabulous music and great dancing had a strong turn out last week -- probably around 80 folks! The organizer said that, from what he's heard, he expects this week to be even bigger! Make sure you check it out and add MILK to your Facebook friends!

And for the biggest, gay party night of all... THIS FRIDAY the 5th! 

• 5:00pm-7:00pm: World's Gayest Office Party, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at Yadda Club
• 8:00pm-10:00pm: HRC First Friday, hosted by the local organizing community, at Crazy Fox Saloon
• 10:00pm: Return of Guerrilla Queer Bar -- and, trust me guys, this sounds like the most fun one of all!!!

As for next weekend, I'm going to just hit them real quick:

• Friday, June 12th, 5:00pm-9:00pm: "Pride in Our Party," hosted by the Ohio Democratic LGBT Caucus, at Below Zero Lounge, with honorable hosts Rep. Steve Driehaus, Ohio AG Richard Cordray, Ohio Treasure Kevin Boyce, County Commissioner Todd Portune, Rep. Connie Pillich, and Rep. Denise Driehaus
• Friday, June 12th, 8:30p: Rainbow Candlelight Vigil across the Purple People Bridge, organizers are planning a mini-march with groups forming at both the north and south ends of the Purple People Bridge and marching to the middle; at the end, the group will march together south towards Kentucky (more information later)
• Saturday, June 13th, 3:00pm-9:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 12:00pm-1:00pm: Pre-Pride Parade Rally at Burnet Woods
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-3:00pm: Pride Parade from Burnet Woods in Clifton to Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-7:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside

There you go folks!

Nine

Whoa. This movie looks amazing. And it's a musical (that looks to be in the same vein as Moulin Rouge).

Federico Fellini wrote one of the earlier screenplays of Nine. This version features the talents of Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, and Kate Hudson.

It's due out in theatres on November 25th of this year.

Thanks to the organizer of Milk: Summer Underground for this one.

Calendar Update!

Time for a big ol'queer calendar update! I promise I'll try to cover all the big stuff for you guys! Please note that all images are from the website or the Facebook page of the event listed.


If you haven't heard about Penny's "private" party at Adonis now, clearly you have not been paying attention. Bitch is working her heels down making sure you join her and all five hundred of her closest friends at Annie's (right up the street from Adonis) this Friday at 10:00pm. It's an open bar from 10p-11p, so it is worth it to get their early. You just have to print off this flyer to get in and par-tay! Check out the event invite.


Meet Milk, Cincinnati's queer and queer-friendly summer underground party scene, debuting at Below Zero on May 27th. I had the chance to speak to the organizer this weekend at the Guerrilla Queer Bar party at Little Bit party, and, aside from being gorgeous, he's a smart guy who's dedicated to good music and great dancing. Word is that he's got some pretty cool shit lined up for all of us to party to; it's all about music, kids. He played a sampling, and it sounds like it will totally be worth it Add Milk: Summer Underground.


PrideLove -- Cincinnati's experiment with queer *gasp* dating -- is coming back, this time to BronZ. Fabulous Della R. (who says that she and I will be BFF's, which I'm totally down with), who owns the business, has a great event lined up: Speeddating! Take five minutes to go on quick dates with men you have never met before, leave perhaps with a husband! Add in some fantastic drink specials, and it sounds like it will be yet another successful event. Check out their event invite for May 30th from 6pm-9pm.


The HRC will be hosting its monthly First Friday event, going out to bars that you normally would not see them out.. making new friends and new connections. Next month, the event takes place at Crazy Fox Saloon in Newport at 8pm. Check out the event invite.


Below Zero Lounge will be hosting the Ohio LGBT Democratic Caucus, kicking off Pride on June 12th at 5pm. Cover is $35 and gets you membership into the caucus. Check out the event invite.


I am so excited to mention this event, as it's being hosted by our friends at the Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky. Tickets are a little expensive -- $50-$150 -- but a portion of that goes to our local GLSEN, and the majority of it goes for fighting for marriage equality in the Bluegrass State. Pop Singer Briant Kent and Gay Comedian (comedienne?) Ryan Hill will be performing. Advance purchase is necessary for attendance, and I hear that they are selling like hot cakes! Check out the event, or the Facebook event, for June 20th at 8pm at Adonis, followed by an after party at Yadda Club.

Please note that Equality Ohio is looking for Pride Volunteers for the entire state, and Squealing with Pride here in Cincinnati is also looking for event volunteers! Pride is next month, kids, can you believe it????