Best Bets 03.30 – 04.12

Friday, March 30

Gay Outreach at AID Atlanta hosts a happy hour social event. First-time participants receive a drink on the house. 5 – 7 p.m. at Friends on Ponce, 736 Ponce De Leon Ave., NE, Atlanta GA 30306, http://on.fb.me/GERqKn

Kai Lin Art’s 21st exhibition, “BLOOM,” is the annual spring exhibit, this year featuring Wallace Duvall, Nathaniel Galka, Lucha Rodriquez, Marlene Lillian, Jarno Kettunen, Penny Treese, Bethany Collins, Sun Hong and Karen Divine. 7 – 10 p.m. at Kai Lin Art, 3069 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30305, www.kailinart.com

The Southern Bears host an informal coffee and dinner for members and those who’d like to know more about the fundraising and social group. 7 p.m. at Caribou Coffee, 3487 Northside Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30327, then dinner at 8 p.m. at OK Cafe, 1284 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30327,
http://on.fb.me/GICQE2, www.southernbears.org

Lesbian poet Megan A. Volpert brings “Sonics in Warholia” for an appearance with fellow writers Chris Chipman and Vince Cellucci. 7 p.m. at Bound to be Read Books, 481-B Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta, GA 30316, www.boundtobereadbooks.com

Superpill, the Sonia Tetlow Band and Flat Cat open for the super-duper queer-inclusive band The Shondes. 8:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. at the HIgland Inn Ballroom Lounge, 644 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306, http://on.fb.me/GQTmS2

Savannah Pride hosts the second annual Fools Party to raise funds for the annual festival. Includes amateur drag contest with 50/50 raffle and drink specials from 9 – 10 p.m. $5, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. at Chuck’s Bar, 301 River St., Savannah, GA 31401, www.savpride.com

Mary’s in East Atlanta celebrates the release of Madonna’s “MDNA” album with CD and promotional swag giveaways. VJ Headmaster Ritual will spin a full night of girl pop dance music. 9 p.m. at Mary’s, 1287 Glenwood Ave. Atlanta, GA 30316, www.marysatlanta.com

Friday, March 30 – Saturday, March 31

The ever-zany Miss Richfield 1981 brings “2012: We’ll All be Dead by Christmas” to Midtown. 8 p.m. at the 14th St. Playhouse, 173 14th St., Atlanta GA 30309, www.missrichfield.com, www.14thstplayhouse.org

The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus performs “Gleeful Noise: Celebrating Glee Clubs, Then & Now,” featuring arrangements from “Glee,” including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and “Teenage Dream.” $25, 8 p.m. at Cannon Chapel at Emory University, 515 S. Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322,
www.agmchorus.org/SpringConcert2012.html

Saturday, March 31

The Atlanta Harlequins, the city’s women’s rugby football club, takes on the Raleigh Venom. 12 – 2 p.m. at Central Park, Upper Field, 355 Pine St., Atlanta, GA 30308, http://on.fb.me/ySUJIM

Strong Ladies and Men, or SLAM, hosts a “Kick Butt & Chew Bubble Gum” self-defense seminar in light of recent homophobic assaults. Free, $5-$10 suggested donation. 12 – 3 p.m. at the Piedmont Park Conservancy Community Center, 1071 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309, http://on.fb.me/GEgO7k,
www.strongladiesandmen.com

Superstar DJ Tony Moran hits the turn tables at Jungle. 10:30 p.m., 2115 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30324, www.jungleclubatlanta.com.

The lesbian-led Michelle Malone Banned performs two shows at Eddie’s Attic. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030,
www.eddiesattic.com

The Dixie Invitational Bowling Tournament hosts a final cookout before its big gay bowling tournament. $10 covers all you can eat burgers, hot dogs and beer. Look out for the drunken gummy bears! 5 – 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Eagle, 306 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308, http://on.fb.me/GGzobQ

The Woofs Wackers softball team hosts their annual Final Four Beer Bust with a 50/50 raffle, Jell-o, shots and drunken gummies. 5 – 8 p.m. at Woof’s, 2425 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, http://on.fb.me/GLfDjC

The Atlanta Freedom Bands perform “March Madness and April Fools: a concert of humor, whimsy and fantasy” with trans performance artist Scott Turner Schofield. 8 p.m. at Druid hills United Methodist Church, 1200 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.atlantafreedombands.com

Fenuxe Magazine presents their 2012 Best Bachelor Auction to benefit AID Atlanta. Ten local gay bachelors will be auctioned off for dinner/spa/theater dates to benefit Atlanta’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization. Tickest $20-$150. 8 – 11 p.m. at Raw Space Gallery, 431 Fair St., Atlanta, GA 30313,
http://2012bachelorauction.eventbrite.com

Sunday, April 1

Award-winning trans performance artist Scott Turner Schofield performs “Words Can’t Describe” to raise money for his surgery fund. Silent auction at intermission. 3 p.m. at 7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, http://on.fb.me/GHDO0C, www.undergroundtransit.com

Meet, greet and read with local gay authors Collin Kelley and David-Matthew Barnes. 3 – 6 p.m. at Bound to Be Read Books, 481-B Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316, www.boundtobereadbooks.com

Pink Martini takes listeners back to the golden era of Hollywood musicals with a genre-blending performance. 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.atlantasymphony.org

Monday, April 2

PFLAG Atlanta hosts the First Monday Support Group with a trained facilitator leading a group of LGBTQ friends and family. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1587 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30329, www.pflagatl.org

Tuesday, April 3

Sing along as pianist David Reeb tickles the ivories every Tuesday. 8 p.m. at Mixx, 1492 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.mixxatlanta.com

Jerry hosts “I Gotta Sing!” karaoke. 11 p.m. at Blake’s on the Park, 227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

Angelica D’ Paige hosts Trivia Tuesday Karaoke. 11:30 p.m. at Burkhart’s, 893 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.burkharts.com

Wednesday, April 4

The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hosts a prix fixe Business Builder Luncheon. $20, cash only, RSVP to laura@truevoices.com 11:55 a.m. at Carpe Diem, 105 Sycamore Place, Decatur, GA 30030, www.atlantagaychamber.org

Dine out at La Tavola to support of the AIDS Vaccine 200 fundraising ride for the Emory Vaccine Center. Twenty percent of food sales will be donated to the HIV research organization. 5:30 – 10 p.m. at La Tavola, 992 Virginia Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306. Make you reservations at www.latavolatrattoria.com

The original “every woman” Chaka Khan plays the Cobb Energy Performing Art Center, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339.
www.ticketmaster.com

Thursday, April 5

Dr. Susan Perz presents “Conceiving a Peaceful World: Women’s BodyWisdom, Leadership and Peacemaking,” a discussion on how women have shaped social movements and created social change. 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com

The Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence raise funds for the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption during a night out at Atlanta’s first and only gay sports bar. 6 – 9 p.m. at Woof’s, 2425 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, http://on.fb.me/zSIwF4

Thursday, April 5 – Sunday, April 8

The Dixie Invitational Bowling Tournament celebrates its 30th anniversary over Easter weekend. The gay bowling event typically hosts 300 southeastern bowlers and this year’s “Family Reunion” theme promises new activities and surprises. Events through out the weekend at Brunswick Zone, 6345 Spalding Drive, Norcross, GA 30092, www.dixiebowl.org

Friday, April 6

The Atlanta Bucks gay rugby club host a night of hot wings and beer at the Heretic. $10, 8 – 11 p.m. at the Heretic, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta GA 30324, www.hereticatlanta.com

Saturday, April 7

Carioca Productions welcomes superstar remixer Danny Verde of Milan, Italy, to an Easter weekend throw down. DJ Scorpio immediately follows with a late-night set at XION. $15 pre-sale, $20 at the door, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m. at Jungle, 2115 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.cariocaproductions.com

The Atlanta Rainbow Trout swim club hosts the 2012 Spring Splash swim meet and post-meet social. Competition is open to all swimmers over 18 and up. Warm up at 10 a.m., meet starts at 11 a.m. at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. 266 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332, http://on.fb.me/xMfUbd

The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival in conjuction with Charis Books and More, the Ponce De Leon Branch of the Fulton/Atlanta Public Library and Atlanta Pride host a poetry workshop during National Poetry Month with Don Perryman and Dustin Brookshire that focuses on generative exercises for new poems. Free, pre-register with dustinvbrookshire@gmail.com. 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Ponce De Leon Branch Library, 980 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta GA 30306, 404-885-7820, www.charisbooksandmore.com

Join the Prime Timers of Atlanta, a social organization of older gay/bisexual men, as they host their monthly meeting. 3 p.m. at the Rush Center, 1539 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.atlantaprimetimers.com

Mondohomo hosts its 3rd annual “Wig Out,” a day-long party to raise funds for the the group’s yearly alternative queer arts and music festival. $10 tickets available at the Eagle, Charis Books, Mary’s and Atlanta Radical Faeries. $15 at the door. 2 – 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Eagle, 306 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308, http://on.fb.me/GJZKvs

Maj. Keith Meadows, the Atlanta Police’s new Zone 6 commander, which covers East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Candler Park, Little Five Points and Virginia-Highland, hosts an informal meet and greet. 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Kirkwood United Church of Christ, 2033 Hosea L. Williams Drive, Atlanta, GA 30317

The Armorettes and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence judge MISTER’s Easter Bonnet Runway Competition where the best bonnet takes home an “adult” easter basket. Grab a free HIV test while you’re at it, stick around for Philip Bonneau’s art show. 5 – 6 p.m. at MISTER, 60 11th St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.positiveimpact-atl.org

“Heroes + Villains Issue #2” is a gallery showing by photographer Philip Bonneau featuring a world of comic characters as played by the gay artist and several local gay models. 6 – 9 p.m. at MISTER, 60 11th St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/PhilipBonneau.

Campagnolo, a new Midtown restaurant near 10th and Piedmont, celebrates its grand opening sneak peek with a fundraiser for ARCA, an HIV/AIDS research non-profit. Suggested donation of $10 includes hors d’oeuvres by executive chef Daniel Chance. Cash bar and donation proceeds go to ARCA.  6 – 10 p.m. and at Campagnolo Restaurant + Bar, 980 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309

Will Pollock and Wiffledust present “Story & Song with Matthew Kahler,” a gallery and music experience. Gallery browsing beings at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m. at Stone Four Studios at Studioplex Atlanta, 659 Auburn Ave. #131, www.matthewkahler.net

Second Sunday Service dance party with DJ Vicki Powell returns to the Old Fourth Ward. 7 p.m. at Church, 466 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, GA 30312,
http://on.fb.me/GSf5da

Sunday, April 8

Blake’s on the Park parties all day, starting at 2 p.m. with Texas Hold’em upstairs. DJ Bill Berdeaux spins Old School Sundays starting at 3 p.m. and DJ Darryl Cox spins Sunday Funday at 7 p.m. 227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

The annual Armorettes Easter Drag Races means an afternoon of fun games. The bar opens at 2 p.m. with the races beginning at 4 p.m. Burkhart’s, 1492 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.burkharts.com

Traxx Girls presents Showtime Sundays hosted by Ms. Sophia, 12 a.m. showtime at Scores Sports Bar, 2425 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA 30035,
www.traxxgirls.com

Monday, April 9

Writing with Intent is a facilitated discussion group for authors of fiction and creative nonfiction. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com

Mondays are Happy Bear Cocktail Hour, where patrons can watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Absolutely Fabulous” with half-price appetizers 5 – 8 p.m. at Cockpit, 465 Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30312, http://thecockpit-atlanta.blogspot.com

Niesha Dupree’s Stars of the Century takes the stage on Mondays at 11 p.m. at Jungle, 2115 Faulkner Rd., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.jungleclubatlanta.com

Every Monday, Catch the “Martini Girls Cabaret” featuring hostesses Jealouse and Charlie Brown with Elea Atlanta and “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” alum Mariah Balenciaga. $5 martini’s all night. 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. at Beluga Martini Bar. 3115 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30305, www.belugamartinibar.com

Tuesday, April 10

Hunx and his Punks return to Atlanta for another raucous show. 830 p.m. at The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta, GA 30316, www.badearl.com

Gay Chicago poet Gregg Shapiro reads from his new book “Gregg Shapiro 77.” Local gay poet Dustin Brookshire joins. 7:30 p.m. at Bound to Be Read, 481-B Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta, GA 30316, www.boundtobereadbooks.com

Wednesday, April 11

Get 25-cent Keystone drafts all night at Heretic’s Dress Code party with DJ Lydia Prim on the turntables. 10 p.m. at the Heretic, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.hereticatlanta.com

Bubba D. Licious and Brent Star host a “Masquerade” PALS Bingo, where a prize will be awarded for best mask. The monthly themed game raises money for Pets Are Loving Support, a non-profit to help HIV/AIDS-affected pet owners with their furry friends. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program at 8 p.m. at Jungle, 2115 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.palsatlanta.org

Thursday, April 12

Join infamous drag personality Ruby Redd for the truly Dirty Boy Bingo. 10 p.m. at Cockpit, 465 Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30312,
http://thecockpit-atlanta.blogspot.com

Thursday nights, catch the Shawnna Factor with Shawnna Brooks, Nicole Paige Brooks, Lena Lust, Lady Shabazz, Lateasha Shante Shuntel and Regina Ryan. 11 p.m. at Blake’s on the Park, 227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com