Our last day at 1050 Broadway...complete with caution tape

Today is the last day at our location on Broadway, and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint.

I sleepily rolled into the office this morning, fired up my computer and waited for my morning haze to burn off as I regretted my decision to skip coffee. Heather, the Communications and Marketing Manager, came in my office and said, “Never a dull moment!” Not having a clue what she’s talking about I say, “Oh yeah.” She said, “I heard this morning on TV…”

“Wait- what did you hear?” I asked. She pointed toward my windows. I pulled open the blinds and saw that I had entirely missed the full blown CRIME SCENE that was unfolding in the Arby’s parking lot across the street.

Apparently last night, post-Vinyl let out, there were shots fired. The cops were present, they fired back and a woman was hit. Who shot her? We don’t know. Neither do they. Hence the cherry-picker hoisting cops into the air to take aerial photographs of the scene. We’ve got fire trucks, caution tape, suits and swat teams. It’s your general run-of-the-mill three-ring circus, people. I’m watching it all go down as I type to you now. Thankfully, the woman is going to be okay, just in case you were wondering.

This all brings me to the Stoplight Party at Vinyl on Sunday... Just bear with me for a minute… For the past 24 hours I’d say at least a fourth of all human interaction I had was about this Stoplight Party. What is a Stoplight Party, you ask? I didn’t know either. After doing some research I got a few good responses.

A friend from Columbus, Ohio, said: “Well, if it's anything like the traffic jam parties here, everyone gets a glowstick. Green = single. Red = taken. Yellow = taken, but willing to play. stay away from yellow.” Another friend from Denver started telling me about the rules but then got so irritated that none of the greens ever wanted to get with other greens that we just dropped the whole subject. Yikes.

I had an evening with friends last night and the Stoplight Party came up… again. I said that I absolutely would not wear a bracelet or glow stick or whatever they were trying to make us do. I jokingly said that the only way I was going was if I was dressing as a street sign. This idea immediately took off in a blaze of alcohol and excitement. We brainstormed about all of the funny sign possibilities. This went on for at least 30 minutes. If this sounds obnoxious to you, you’re dead on.

However, by the end I -- no joke -- had decided I was going to go wrapped in caution tape.

Vinyl. Caution Tape. Crazy, no? So I can’t help but think of the Stoplight Party as I watch the cops clean up the crime scene this morning. I know I’ve said it before but I am truly going to miss Broadway and all of its crazy happenings.

I’m still debating about this wacky Stoplight Flirt Party at Vinyl this Sunday. I believe the party is the same regular Vinyl Sunday hours 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Perhaps I will see you there. If, in fact, my crew of friends decides to go, I need to start getting my caution tape costume ready. Maybe I can just go across the street and ask the cops if I can borrow some…

Pride's over and we're scrambling to move into our new digs

I hope you are all recovering well from last weekend!

I’d like to thank The Center for throwing a great 35th anniversary bash for our community, as well as all of the community members and organizations who contributed their time and hours to help make this a record-setting PrideFest.

I came off of my Gatorade and Saltines diet a few days ago and seem to be shaping up quite well ... just in time to get down to the grind once again.

Okay folks, here’s the real, true (phat?) skinny on the move: The new building on Colfax is moving full speed ahead toward becoming finished. We’re scrambling over here post-PrideFest to get all things recycled, shredded and moved in the next week.

Now pay attention, The Center will be closed (both old and new locations) the week of July 5th-9th. No phone calls, no emails, no interns – nothing. This gives us time to get all polished and pretty in the new building for you all to see. We will open shortly after our week-long drop off the face of the Earth.

If you have a crisis during the time we are closed I strongly encourage you to call CAVP at 303.852.5094.

If you need computer service, try the library on 13th and Broadway.

Need legal advice? Check out Colorado Legal Services at 303.837.1321.

We’ll be back before you know it in our shiny new digs. I can’t wait to see you all when we return!

Tips from Center staff on doing PrideFest right

I was driving the 16-foot moving truck that we use to haul all of the PrideFest materials around Denver today feeling especially futch. Futch is a new term given to me by a new friend that I cannot use enough. Futch = Feminine butch. Incredible, right? I haven’t really nailed down all of the details like, is there a spectrum of qualifying members? Does it apply to those who are on the feminine side of butch as well as the butch side of feminine (because believe me there is a difference)? These are things I’m willing to get to the bottom of and could probably take an entire blog to discuss, but perhaps not today...

I was driving the truck today because it’s day 5 in the week of PrideFest. I’ve been singing a little carol in my head, “on the 5th day of PrideFest Amy Drayer said to me...” and it’s been helping me lighten my load when I get too serious about throwing a 300,000-person festival. Today she said something about a truck and some grommet kits. Try working that into a song…

While we feel like we’re in the home stretch here at The Center, the festival hasn’t even started for you all yet. I thought it might be fun to go around and ask folks in the office during the 11th hour what their one PrideFest tip would be to participants. Here is what they said:

Rob Hoiting, Grant Writer: “Eat as many foods that come on a stick as you can… That’s the point of a festival, right?”

Craig Overholser, Executive Assistant: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99 -- If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.”

Heather Draper, Media and Communications Manager: “Why is it always the people who shouldn’t go topless are the ones who always do?” H, that’s not really a tip…

(Note from Heather, who posts the blog: "OK, I meant to say: Keep your clothes on.")

Amy Drayer, PrideFest Guru: “Please don't spray paint your thong gold. Alternatively, please don't wear a thong."

Rahn Andersen, Volunteer Coordinator: “Laugh/smile…that could be you.”

Deb Pollock, Development Director: "Hydrate. Drink one water for every other drink you're having."

A unanimous response from the Rainbow Alley Youth: “Keep it clean, queer and under control.”

Be safe and have fun. I’ll see you all in the park. - jg

Check out scooter mania at The Center's booth at PrideFest!

Did you know that this year we're raffling off a scooter at The Center’s grand opening in September?

Erico MotorSports donated a Piaggio Fly 50 scooter to us to celebrate two grand occasions -- the 35th anniversary of Denver PrideFest and The Center’s new home at 1301 E Colfax.

Want to buy tickets? We’ll be selling them both days at PrideFest. Look for The Center’s booth in Sponsor Row off of Broadway in Civic Center Park and you can check out the bike in person and purchase your tickets there.

Just $5 a ticket buys you a chance to win this silver beauty.

Can’t wait until PrideFest to grab a hold of your tickets? Contact me at jgenther@glbtcolorado.org. The actual drawing won’t take place until September, but why wait to cash in on your chance to ride around this fall in style?

SportsFest will excite athletes and their admirers alike

Thanks to my four-year stint at an all-girls private Catholic high school, there was never a shortage of athletic girls around, a group to which I do not hold a membership card, but one I can confidently say started my appreciation of sports at a young age...

I never really played the sports, I dated the players (arguably a sport of its own, but I digress) and have multiple jerseys and sweat pants with team logos to prove it. I mention all this because I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in my admiration for athletic folk. What I’m about to tell you will excite the hearts of sports fans and the boys and girls who love them alike.

The first LGBT SportsFest is this weekend and I know there are thousands of sporty queers -- and even more of us who love them -- out there who will want the information for this weekend. The Center is sponsoring the first-ever SportsFest in Cook Park, off Cherry Creek South and South Monaco Parkway.

Haven’t heard of it? SportsFest has it all -- volleyball, rugby, swimming, softball and more! All the proceeds benefit Team Colorado USA. The activities span the weekend starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and ending at 5 p.m. Sunday. Highlights include the kick-off party Friday night at JR's and the Sunday volleyball challenge game between Babes Around Denver and Hip Chicks Out.

Bring chairs, food, beer and friends because it’s gonna be a long, fun weekend in the sun.

For more info, schedules and maps check out: http://www.glbtcolorado.org/PrideFest_SportsFest.aspx

Mimosas, a Mustang and Gloria Steinem...Meet the woman behind PrideFest

There are a lot of you out there who do not know Amy Drayer, associate director of development for The Center. You’ve never met the woman who is responsible for PrideFest, coordinator of the vast majority of events at The Center and the mastermind behind Something For Everyone.

You’ve never seen the emoticon flip chart on her desk that serves as a warning. You haven’t had the pleasure of her shooting a confetti popper off in your office. I would bet my next paycheck on the fact that you’ve not seen her chase a semi-truck down the street after it accidentally hit the PrideFest production van ... and that’s alright. Amy wears a lot of hats here at The Center, but most importantly in my world, Amy Drayer is my boss. That’s right, this confetti-popping PrideFestian is my fearless leader. This morning I asked Amy if I could ask her a few questions about the upcoming festival, among other things, for the blog. She said yes.

JG: This is Denver PrideFest’s 35th anniversary. You’ve been running the show for five years now. When did you start planning for the 35th anniversary in your head and what were some of your initial thoughts?

AD: I started thinking about where we wanted the festival to be for the 35th anniversary right after we finished up 2006. I knew we needed more stages, programming that was inclusive of our entire community, and that we could get a great headlining act by 2010 - and I'm really proud that we were able to secure En Vogue as our headlining talent this year.

JG: Does the festival this year look anything like you originally thought? What are some of your favorite highlights for this year?

AD: I can't wait for the country stage - PrideFest OutWest (14th and Broadway). There's a huge CW community in Denver and I've known for a couple years that we needed to have country music as part of our festival. We were lucky enough to have Shannon Stone step up and volunteer to organize it for 2010 - come on down and scoot your boot.

JG: People have lots of questions about why PrideFest is a week early in 2010. What’s the good word?

AD: PrideFest agreed to work with the city of Denver this year to accommodate planning for the Biennial of the Americas. It's an amazing event planned for this summer and there are several renovations that need to take place in the park to accommodate installing all the components. We were happy to be good neighbors and share the park for the celebration.

JG:We have to talk about Gloria. This is one of my favorite things to tell people when I talk about you. For those of you who do not know, Amy used to work for Gloria Steinem. Didn’t you manage a national bus tour for her?

AD: Yes, in 2000 for the presidential election. I produced the tour, which hit 5 states and visited 30 schools in 3 months. My favorite moment was in Milwaukee, Wisc. we stopped at a Greek diner for dinner after a rally. I don't remember the conversation leading up to it, there might have been a dare involved. But Gloria got out of the bus and did the chicken dance for all of us. Her husband at the time, David, joined in. It's definitely in my top 3 highlight reel moments.

JG: How many busses can you park in an hour?

AD: In 2004, with a highly skilled and well-trained team of bus-parking ninjas, we managed to place 1,000 busses in the parking lot of RFK stadium, the most ever to date, within 4 hours with no injury to motor coaches or pedestrians. It was a unique moment in time.

JG: How do you feel about the phrase “If you can park a bus, you can run a festival”?

AD: I feel it might have been something I've said previously. It's an oversimplification, but if you're not afraid to have a few tons of steel wheeling toward you at the break of dawn, you might be festival material.

JG: You’re quite the entertainer outside of work as well with all of your brunches and parties. Pop quiz, chef: Put together the perfect outdoor summer patio dinner. Drinks included. Ready, go!

AD: Tina Fey would bring out the first course. Something light like ceviche tacos with champagne. She'd do a quick stand-up set and then Martha Stewart would bring out the main course. I would hope there would be lamb involved, or anything that would compliment our Cadillac margaritas. Catherine Zeta Jones would bring out dessert.

JG: Any exciting plans for Memorial Day Weekend?

AD: Bloody Marias. Maybe mimosas.

JG: What is your post-Pride rejuvenation plan?

AD: Road trip! I'm jumping in my Mustang and driving to Cali for a week. Did you know you have to drive through Las Vegas to get to LA from Denver?

The Center, BAD and Vino 100 are throwing a party on Tuesday, May 25

Who doesn’t love an impromptu party? I’m glad we agree, because The Center, Babes Around Denver and Vino 100 are throwing a fly-by bash Tuesday, May 25.

Why? Vino 100 and owner Cynthia Acensio have been a huge community support over the years, but it’s time for Cynthia to move on to bigger and better things. We’re throwing a party to help celebrate as this fantastic business owner crosses into new frontiers and to thank her for everything she has done for us. Come help celebrate!

Details:

Please join The Center and Babes Around Denver at Vino 100 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, for a special night of savings!

Vino 100 will be closing the store in late June and wants to give our community a chance to get in on some great wine at great prices as they reduce their inventory. As you know, owners Cynthia and Melanie have been wonderful contributors to The Center and the LGBT community and we are excited to support them as they venture on to new endeavors!

On Tuesday:

• 10% off any item sold during that night or the original item discount, whichever is greater

• Select beverages and all gift merchandise will be on sale at 20% off

• Only $1 per person to taste great wines!

• Coupons for free cover to the fun new piano bar Chez Cirque at the Landmark for anyone who buys wine that night

If you’re not already familiar with Vino 100 Denver, it’s a wine specialty store that offers you a warm, welcoming environment to explore the world of wine.

They offer unique wines from small, artisan vineyards and wineries personally selected to give you the opportunity to taste and enjoy special wines from around the world at affordable prices. We also offer selected specialty beers and premium spirits.

In addition to great wines, select beers and premium spirits, Vino 100 has a large variety of gifts and accessories for the wine lover in your life. The selection includes high quality stemware, corkscrews/openers, wine journals and books, gift bags and baskets, wine totes and carriers, and much, much more!

Join us and enjoy the Vino 100 experience!

Vino 100 at the Landmark

5370 Greenwood Plaza Blvd

Suite 106

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

303-997-7186

Don your bandanas and look out for the mechanical bull ...

Did y'all hear that we’re having a Country Stage this year at PrideFest?

That’s right, the Out West Saloon is making its debut this year at the 35th anniversary of PrideFest. Right by the family area, the Out West Saloon is going to sit on the corner of Broadway and 14th and it is there that you can two-step and line-dance to your heart’s content.

I’ve heard rumors that there will be line dancing lessons, popular DJs from the bars we all know and love, kiddie line dancing, and Cowboy Church.

What is Cowboy Church, you say? The truth is ... I don’t really know, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?

Anyway, what I’m saying is that this is going to be one of those things you do not want to miss. Don’t quote me on this but I think it has potential to grow to be one of the biggest, baddest areas of PrideFest. It’ll be like Charlies and C’s combined for one really gay weekend. What’s wrong with that? You’re right, absolutely nothing.

So don on your bandanas and boots and get ready to hit the laminate dance floor. Watch out for the hay bales and don’t forget to check out the mechanical bull. I’m serious. There will be a mechanical bull.

It’s a wild, wild west, y’all…

My Moms are getting married!

My moms called yesterday. They told me that after 30-something years of being together, they decided they were going to get legally married in Massachusetts. Pretty amazing, I think. I mean, the phone call didn’t go that gracefully. More like:

"Hi sweetie, are you busy?"

"Totally slammed. What’s up?"

"What are you doing in October 2011?"

"I have no idea what I’m doing in October 2011, but October is a really busy time work wise so-"

"Oh. Oh no!"

"What?"

"Why can’t you get away?"

"What? Ma, just tell me..."

Meanwhile, while that tug of war was taking place, I can hear the other mom yelling in the background things for the mom on the phone to tell me. By the time they said they had decided to legally tie the knot, the scene had unraveled exactly as chaotic and sweetly as how I would have imagined it coming from those two.

My moms are in their late 50s and early 70s, respectfully. They had a “holy union” back in the late 70s before I was born and since that time they’ve run the gamut of things that married couples go through... or maybe not. They got a donor and became pregnant, were the first of their friends to have a baby, faced familial homophobia, have been fired for being gay, wrote a book about it, have taken flights to D.C. for protests, cheered when second parent adoption was passed in Michigan (my mothers were both finally recognized as my parents by the state when I was 21 years old), and now after 30 something years they are going to legally get married in Boston.

Regardless of how you feel about marriage, this is a beautiful frontier to watch them cross. I fall in love with our community every time I hear stories like those of my parents and I feel so lucky that I get to hear things like this all of the time from all of you because of where I work. I don’t have much else to say this week. I just wanted to share a positive story with you all during this Pride season. I think sometimes the stories of our community can be pretty rife with pain and it’s important to tell the good stories too.

...Oh and speaking of queer families, we’re adding kids’ line-dancing lessons this year at PrideFest in our new section, Out West Saloon, at the corner of 14th and Broadway. More on the Out West Saloon next week ... Happy Pride!

It's that time of year again ... and I couldn't be more proud

It’s that time again, although at the rate we move here, it’s always “that time” for something. However, you know what I’m talking about. It’s getting warmer. You see girls holding hands walking down the street. The boys are starting to carry little dogs in their purses on the patio at Daz Bog... It’s PrideFest time. I heard someone call it the “Gay New Year” in a meeting last week and that felt spot on. Yes folks, our Gay New Year is swiftly approaching and this year I’m particularly proud. Let me tell you why ...

This year is the 35th anniversary of PrideFest here in Denver. I was sleuthing around yesterday checking out some of the other bigger PrideFests (for those of you who do not know, Denver is ranked 6th largest PrideFest in the country) and I found out that LA and Atlanta are having their 40th birthday as well. Congrats to all of the PrideFests in the nation who are having anniversaries that are decades old! PrideFest has never been only about having a good time. It grew from political roots, from our friends and family fighting for our civil rights and respect. It is truly something to be proud of that we have come together for almost half a century to celebrate who we are.

Denver PrideFest’s 35th anniversary is really something to celebrate. I’m proud that we are one of the few remaining PrideFests to offer a free celebration to our community year after year. I’m proud that we’re expanding with Dyke Marches and Country Stages. I’m proud that over the 35 years, PrideFest has grown to almost 300,000 people in the park over the weekend. I encourage you to take a look around this June and bask in the celebration of our community and how far we’ve come to get here.

Only seven more weeks. Happy Pride, everybody!

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