Charlotte
Just say no
CHARLOTTE — Join Equality North Carolina’s Ian Palmquist and Rebecca Mann for a town hall meeting on the School Violence Prevention Act (also known as the “Anti-Bullying Bill”) on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Francis Auditorium in the Charlotte Main Library, 310 N. Tryon St.
Discussion will focus on the bill’s past, its up-to-the-minute status at the North Carolina General Assembly and, most importantly, what can be done to support its passage in 2009. Attendees will also hear about other legislation affecting LGBT North Carolinians, as well as how a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals are working together to make sure all children are safe at school.
To attend, visit eqfed.org/equalitync/events/CharlotteSVPATownHall.
For more information, email rebecca@equalitync.org.
It’s simply sipping
CHARLOTTE — Wine aficionado Ruth Derrow is seeking individuals who are interested in starting a wine tasting club at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center.
Derrow had so many people ask if she would do in-home tasting parties that she developed a monthly live event. She is now assisting those who want to be in a wine club find one or host one themselves at home.
In-home party boxes include wine, basic appetizers of crackers, cookies or chocolate, selected finger food recipies and dinner pairing suggestions. The wines carry blind labeling. No experience is necessary.
To be a club captain at the Center or at home or for more information, visit www.WineIslandVillage.com. Other clubs are being organized throughout the state. To find out more about how to participate, email info@WineIslandVillage.com or olfun@vnet.net.
Love a mystery?
CHARLOTTE — Under the direction of Glenn T. Griffin, Queen City Theatre Company is currently bringing to the stage an irreverent parody of Saturday morning cartoons — for adults only — entitled “Spooky Dog and the Teen-age Gang Mysteries.”
The play follows the adventures of a familiar gang of teen sleuths: a butch, blond frat boy, an even more butch brainy gal with a trusty flashlight, a hot-to-trot diva in a miniskirt, a spaced-out hippie and a talking dog. On a campy and comical quest to find their missing friend, they face the ghost of a dead country singer, a not-so-psychic fortune teller and the sinister couple who run the fairground — and that’s not all.
Show dates are Feb. 7-21 at the Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St. Times are 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with a special $10 discounted ticket for Feb. 11.
Tickets ($15-$20) are available online at www.carolinatix.org or by phone at 704-372-1000. Seniors and students discounts are available.
A special promotional tour was held on Jan. 24, when the cast and crew visited Petra’s, Liaisons and The Garden and Gun Club.
For more information, visit www.queencitytheatre.com.
Center announces events
CHARLOTTE — The Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 810 Hamilton St., Suite B11, is hosting a Valentine’s Gay Speed Dating for men age 21 and over Feb. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Roxy C. Moorecox will host. A $30 admission fee includes appetizers, beer, wine, soft drinks and the opportunity to meet the man of your dreams before Valentine’s Day.”
Register by Feb. 11 at qcspeeddating@gmail.com. Proceeds benefit the LGBT Community Center.
For more information, call 704-877-2779 or visit www.gaycharlotte.com.
The Center, along with Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), will also hold a Valentine’s evening social on Feb. 14, 8-11 p.m.
To beat the bad economy, a low-cost suggested donation replaces admission.
Single? Bring along a couple to get a free drink ticket. The disco balls are ready and the Center will sneak preview some short movies to be screened at the GayCharlotte Film Festival, slated for Apr. 2-5.
Before hanging out at the Center, stop by CRANE’s “Light a Candle for Love” event from 7-8:30 p.m. at Trade and Tryon in Uptown or drop in before hitting the clubs later that evening.
For more information, visit www.RainbowAction.org.
Save the date
CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) has announced that its AIDS WALK will be held on May 2.
The annual event, a two-mile walk through Charlotte’s Historic Fourth Ward, is a visual representation of the community’s commitment to and compassion for those impacted by HIV and AIDS. Participants walk in memory of those who have finished their journey, as advocates for those infected and as a beacon of light for the future when steps will have helped stop the spread of AIDS.
A new website is on the radar, due for posting early this month.
It’s not too early to form teams and get ready to register, walk and make a difference.
For more information, call Nathan Smith at 704-372-7246 ext. 161, email
n.smith@carolinarain.org or visit www.aidswalkcharlotte.org.
In other news, RAIN returns with its Amazing Race Bar Crawl on Mar. 7.
The event helps to raise much-needed funds for HIV/AIDS care teams in the Charlotte-metro area.
Sign up early and beat the 60-team limit. Deadline for entries is Feb. 20.
Team members must be at least 21 years old. Entry fee is $125 per 5-person team and does not include the cost of drinks at each bar.
For more information or to register your team, visit www.barsagainstaids.org.
Coastal
Show your pride
WILMINGTON — Out Wilmington, in preparation for Wilmington Pride 2009, is looking for volunteers to lend a hand in planning, preparation and production of their annual event.
Monthly social meetings are being held at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Fischer Student Union Building in the Upperman Room.
Fundraising events held in conjunction with Pride, help fund the website and advocacy, social and educational programs.
Pride needs volunteer efforts in securing local business owner sponsorships.
Out Wilmington is seeking to build its presence by having pre-Pride/membership drive events each month prior to its weekend festivities from June 11-14.
To find out more about volunteer opportunities, pre-event fundraisers or more, email pride@outwilmington.com or visit outwilmington.com.
It’s V time
WILMINGTON — The 2009 tour of “Vagina Monologues” will be held Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Lumina Theater in the Fisher Student Center, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Warwick Ballroom with dinner and show and Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. at Lumina Theater at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Laura McLean, guitar guru of the Lower Cape Fear, will be the musical guest for the event.
Tickets are: Lumina Theater, $6 students, $8 faculty, staff and alumni and $10 public.
Dinner and show are: $25 students, $35 faculty, staff and alumni and $40 public.
Tickets are available at Kenan Auditorium Box Office, 910-962-3500, and Sharkey’s Box Office, 910-962-4045. Credit card purchases must be done through the Kenan Auditorium Box Office.
Proceeds will support the Wilmington Domestic Violence Shelter and Coastal Horizons’ Rape Crisis Center. The performance is sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center.
For more information, call 910-962-7870 or email wrc@uncw.edu.
Eastern
It’s dinner time
GREENVILLE — The Greenville NC Area Queer Anouncements List (GVLAQUA) has been invited by OASIS, a social group that began in Jacksonville in 1994, to its monthly soiree at members’ homes for a potluck dinner.
It now sports membership from Craven, Jones and Lenoir counties as well as those from other crossover organizations.
For more information on OASIS, email thisjustin@suddenlink.net.
Triangle
It’s alive!
RALEIGH — The Raleigh Business and Professional Network has announced that its website is up and running.
Early Design Group and Sean Byrne were responsible for the execution of this effort, based upon approval of the board of directors.
Take a peek. Visit www.raleighnetwork.org.
Triangle chorus nets grant
DURHAM — The Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus is one of two dozen arts and performing groups receiving a seasonal cash grant from the Durham Arts Council.
The grant will be used to help finance performances and concerts. The Durham Arts Council is a private, non-profit organization. However, cash grants were made possible, in part, by the public North Carolina Arts Council, as well as private donations to the Durham Arts Council’s Annual Arts Fund.
Additional groups receiving grants include Manbites Dog Theatre, Voices Together, The Southern Documentary Fund and others.
The next concert the Chorus will present is it’s annual fundraiser entitled “Feelin’ Groovy!” scheduled for March 7 at Doris Duke Center, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 426 Anderson St. at 7 p.m. Music will focus on the time peace, love beads and lava lamps were the in thing.
For more information, visit www.tgmchorus.org.
Western
Eat up and talk, too
VALLE CRUCIS — Join the Friday Women’s Chat Group on Feb. 20 when Leslie Brunetsky will bring copies of her latest book, “Real Country: From the Fast Track to Appalachia,” as she shares her tales from this published work. Stick around and get an autographed book which she will be selling that evening.
Join others at Coyote Kitchen for dinner at 5:30 p.m. before the presentation. Then it’s on to a private home for the evening’s program, where Brunetsky will entertain listeners with true stories about life in the hollers of North Carolina.
Not able to attend? Want a signed copy? Then ordering is simple. Send an email to LBrunetsky@gmail.com to secure a copy. Cost for the book is $13.95 plus shipping and handling. Invoices will be sent with the book. Full name and mailing address is required. “Jane Henrys” not needed, then visit www.LesliesRealCountry.com and order there.
The informal chat group includes discussions about issues that are important to lesbians, as well as a social outlet.
For more information or to join the group for the event, call 828-898-4201 or email LaurieBWeiner@yahoo.com.
Statewide
ENC to stage lobby day
STATEWIDE — Equality North Carolina is calling upon its supporters across the state to make plans now to attend the Equality NC Day of Action (lobby day) on March 24 at the North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St. in Raleigh from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
This is an important opportunity for LGBT and allied North Carolinians to make a real difference by educating legislators about key issues, including school bullying, discrimination and anti-equality legislation like the proposed constitutional marriage ban and relationship recognition for same-sex couples.
To register or for more information, visit www.equalitync.org.
info: Announce your community event in NC News Notes.
email: editor@q-notes.com.