Best Bets 9.27.13-10.11.13

Friday, Sept. 27

The first exhibit from Emory University’s collections of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender materials – “Building a Movement in the Southeast: LGBT Collections in MARBL”-  is on display at the university’s Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library at the Robert W. Woodruff Library, www.emory.edu

The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber (AGLCC) hosts its Fourth Friday event from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Zocalo, www.atlantagaychamber.org

The Big Wooden Deck Party is a benefit for Jerusalem House with a signature Glass Slipper martini, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  at Henry’s Midtown, www.henrysatl.com

Antigone Rising & A Fragile Tomorrow team up at 7 p.m. at Eddie’s Attic, www.eddiesattic.com

Local boy done good John Mayer returns to the ATL tonight at 7 p.m. at Aaron’s Amphitheatre, www.livenation.com

This month’s “Civil Rights Movie” feature is the gay-themed “Prayers for Bobby,” 7 – 9 p.m. at Saint Mark United Methodist Church, www.stmarkumc.org

Atlanta favorite Michelle Malone performs twice tonight, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., at the Velvet Note, www.thevelvetnote.com

Sing “All Night Long” along with Lionel Richie tonight at 8 p.m. at Chastain Park, www.chastainseries.com

10th &Piedmont is the location for this month’s Swank party for the ladies, beginning at 9 p.m., 10th &Piedmont, http://www.communitashospitality.com/10th-and-piedmont/

Folk rock great Richard Bicknell performs at 9:30 p.m. at Eddie’s Attic, www.eddiesattic.com

Edie Cheezburger and other drag personalities raise money for Atlanta Pride at the Other Show benefit, 9:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatlcom

Otter Pop is a celebration of otters, wolves, silver foxes, cubs and furry subspecies of men at 10 p.m. at Marys, www.marysatlanta.com

DJ Factore spins from 10 p.m. – 3 a.m. at Jungle, www.jungleatl.com

Saturday, Sept. 28

Former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin is a guest at CHRIS Kids’ 13th annual CHRIStal Ball event, 6 – 10 p.m. at Georgia Aquarium, www.chriskids.org

Play 4 Free Ladies event, with DJ Adore and DJ Silver Knight, Aurum Lounge, 6 – 10 p.m., www.ladiesatplay.com

Country headliner Martina McBride performs at 7 p.m., Chastain Park, www.chastainseries.com

Hosted by Nicole Paige Brooks, “Legendary Children” is a group photography exhibit featuring work by Blane Bussey, Jon Dean, Blake England, Kevin O, and Matt Terrell at 7 p.m., with a drag show at 9 p.m., gallery 1562, www.gallery1526.com

Wanna be the next Mr. Hideaway Bear and Cub? Come to Roy’s Hideaway Compound for the 8 p.m. competition, www.royshideaway.com

Bedlam presents CirqueDeCabaret La Suite,a dance party with performance art, at 10:30 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Competition will be stiff at the “Hot Chest” Contest tonight at Blake’s,  www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

Sunday, Sept. 29

Join Lambda Legal supporters at the annual Atlanta Garden Party to celebrate victories for the LGBT community,  with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC., 3 – 6 p.m. , www.lambdalegal.org

Dinner with the Divas, hosted by Phoenix, is a night of fun at the happening new Lips, www.lipsusa.com

Monday, Sept. 30

Help out Charis Circle by dining out at Lawrence’s Cafe today, www.lawrencescafe.com

The Decatur Business Association hosts a golf tournament at the Smoke Rise Golf Club in Stone Mountain, beginning at 10 a.m., with proceeds going to help fund future events held by the association, such as the Concerts on the Square and Decatur Beach Party, www.smokerisecc.com

Tuesday, Oct. 1

The Philip Rush Center and Out On Film present a pre-festival screening of the documentary “Valentine Road,” followed by a discussion on bullying, 7 p.m., Philip Rush Center, www.rushcenteratl.org

Blondie’s No Principals Tour with special guest X comes to the Buckhead Theatre tonight at 8 p.m. www.thebuckheadtheatre.com

Wednesday, Oct. 2

Fidlar and the Orwells are on a twin bill tonight, with doors opening at 9 p.m., at The Drunken Unicorn, www.thedrunkenunicorn.net

It’s Cubby Hole Underwear/Blackjack night, 10 – 11 p.m., at the Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

The Triple Threat Show with Aurora Savage, Daniella Vess, and Serenity-Jade Paris showcases Atlanta’s new and upcoming performers, plus a panel discussion, games and prizes, LeBuzz, www.thenewlebuzz.com

Thursday, Oct. 3

Kennesaw State University’s GLBTIQ Student Retention Services presents the LGBTQ History Exhibit: “Opening Doors, Outing LGBTQ History,” from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Carmichael Student Center, www.kennesaw.edu

Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBT film festival, opens tonight at 7 p.m. with the comedy “G.B.F.” followed by an after party at the Atlanta W Midtown, www.outonfilm.org

An array of local writers take part in the Stride Into Pride Atlanta Literary All Star Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com

Friday, Oct. 4

Academy Award winning Whoopi Goldberg kicks off the Life @ 50+ National AARP Event & Expo, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Georgia World Congress Center. www.gwcc.com

Philip Bonneau’s acclaimed photographic series continues in “Heroes + Villains: Lost + Found,” a benefit for Lost-N-Found, 6 – 10 p.m., Suite Spot, http://www.suitespot.net/ www.suitespot.net

Saturday, Oct. 5

Tennis great Martina Navratilova kicks off a busy day at the AARP national conference with a fitness routine from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., followed by “Powerful Allies – Real Stories Making a Difference in the LGBT Community” presented by SAGE and the AARP Foundation at 2:30 p.m., then a reception with political humorist Kate Clinton, Georgia World Congress Center. www.gwcc.com

PFLAG hosts its Big Day Out! Family picnic, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Glenlake Park Pavilion, www.pflagatlanta.com

As part of Atlanta Pride’s 2013 Stride Into Pride Cultural celebrations,  Charis welcomes authors Julie Marie Wade, Sassafras Lowrey, and Alysia Angel for “The Tears on Her Face are From Laughter: Queer Stories of Survival, ” an evening of storytelling, poetry, and tales of queer triumph, 7:30 p.m., Charis Books, www.charisbooksandmore.com

The bears are out tonight! Bearracuda returns to Atlanta with DJ HiFi Sean, 9 p.m – 3 a.m., Heretic, www.atlantaheretic.com

Sunday, Oct. 6

The 8th Annual Field of Greens Festival, Georgia’s sustainable farming fair, is today with a vendor’s market, local music, chefs and crafts, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walnut Grove’s Whippoorwill Hollow Farm, www.fieldofgreensfestival.com

The Historic Oakland Foundation present the 34th annual Sunday in the Parkevent, with fun, food and entertainment for all ages, from 12 -6 p.m, Oakland Cemetery,  www.oaklandcemetery.com

Frogs Cantina hosts a Beer Bust to raise money for the Phillip Rush Center expansion, 3 – 6 p.m., Frogs, www.frogsmidtown.com

Monday, Oct. 7

Blue Monday Karaoke with Angelica D’Paige raises the roof at 11:30 p.m., Burkhart’s, www.burkharts.com

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Amsterdam Atlanta hosts its weekly Showtunes night out beginning at 9 p.m., Amsterdam Atlanta, www.amsterdamatlanta.com

Wednesday, Oct. 9

PALS Atlanta presents Bingo at 7:30 p.m. at Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

My Sister’s Room hosts its Pre-Pride kick off/dance party, 8 p.m. – 3 a.m., www.mysistersroom.com

Thursday, Oct. 10

From gay director Brian Clowdus comes the new “The Sleepy Hollow Experience,“ 8 p.m., Serenbe Playhouse, www.serenbeplayhouse.com

It’s Ladies Night at Friends on Ponce, with your host Regina, beginning at 8 p.m., Friends on Ponce, www.friendsonponce-atl.com

Out On Film 26 closes with a screening of the award-winning documentary “Bridegroom,” featuring an appearance by the film’s star, Shane Bitney Crone, at 8:30 p.m., www.outonfilm.org

The Welsh indie-rock trio The Joy Formidable opens for Passion Pitonight, 10 p.m., Masquerade www.masqueradeatlanta.com

Tempt Me Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m at Phase One,  www.wassupnatl.com

UPCOMING

Friday, Oct. 11

The Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff party is tonight at the Georgia Aquarium, with DJs Vicki Powell and Chris Griswold, 7 – 11:30 p.m., www.georgiaaquarium.org

Saturday, Oct. 12

Atlanta Pride weekend begins with activities all weekend, www.atlantapride.org
As part of the Atlanta 2013 LGBA Conference, Atlanta Freedom Bands presents  “Color Our World: Life, Spirit, Magic!,” with special guest Topher Payne, from 8 – 10 p.m. at the Ferst Center for the Arts, www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu

Funny woman Wanda Sykes brings her sly humor to town tonight at 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, www.cobbenergycentre.com

DJ Tony Moran is in the house for Atlanta’s Best Dance Party- Pride Edition, 9 p.m.  – 3 a.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Monday, Oct. 14

Legendary writer Erica Jong celebrates 40 years of “Fear of Flying,” published in 1973, with a local appearance, presented by the Georgia Center for the Book at the Jimmy Carter Library of the Carter Center, 7 p.m., www.cartercenter.org

Tuesday, Oct. 15

The gay friendly Noah & the Whale Atlanta play Variety Playhouse at 8 p.m., www.variety-playhouse.com

Aaron Carter performs at 8:30 p.m. at Buckhead Theatre, www.thebuckheadtheatre.com

Thursday, Oct. 17 – 19
The first ever LGBT social media conference salon convenes in the ATL, with a number of national speakers and presenters, www.salonlgbtq.com

Family Equality Council, nation’s leading advocate for LGBT parents, hosts a reception to learn more about efforts to achieve full equality for our families- especially in light of the Supreme Court’s decision this summer to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), 5 – 7 pm, No Mas Cantina, www.NoMasAtlanta.com

AEN hosts its Third Thursday Networking at 6:30 p.m. at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, www.thegeorgianterrace.com

Saturday, Oct. 19

Festival on Ponce’s fall arts and crafts festival is this weekend at Olmsted Linear Park www.festivalonponce.com

Atlanta Contemporary Art Center brings back Art Party: Nourish, a multi-media event with art and entertainment, 7 p.m. – midnight, www.thecontemporary.org/artparty

Pop singer, songwriter and musician Todd Careykicks off his “8 Bit Heartbeat” U.S. tour a headlining showtonight at 8 p.m. Smit’s Olde Bar, www.smithsoldebar.com

Sunday, Oct. 20

Miss USA 2012 and HIV/AIDS Activist Nana Meriwether joins “American Idol finalist” RJ Helton for the 23rd annual AIDS Walk at Piedmont Park, www.aidswalkatlanta.com

Tuesday, Oct. 22
LGBT friendly recording artist Jesse Ware brings her melancholy vocals to Center Stage tonight beginning at 8 p.m., www.centerstage-atlanta.com

Thursday, . 24

The Restorative Justice Center of Atlanta host the first annual “Diamond on the Half Shell” Benefit at the Atlanta City Hall Atrium from 6 – 9 p.m., with actress Jasmine Guy, www.restorativejusticecenter.org

Friday, Oct. 25

The Atlanta Lyric Theatre opens the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” with some openly gay cast members, 8 p.m. at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at Cobb Civic Center. www.atlantalyrictheatre.com

Wednesday, Oct. 30

The Los-Angeles based indie rock band Sir Sly, a favorite in the LGBT community, come to The Earl tonight at 8:30 p.m. www.badearl.com

Nov. 1 – 2
The 14th Annual RPC / CEF Creating Opportunity Conference, focusing on realistic solutions for moving the Southeastern region, and the nation, past its economic, educational, and social justice challenges. will be held this weekend at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, www.rainbowpushatlanta.org .

Nov. 15

Sponsored by Someone Cares Atlanta, the First Annual National Trans Health Symposium -“The Time Is Now!” – takes place today at The Loudermilk Center, with speakers and panel discussions, www.someonecaresatl.org