Gay List Daily’s must-do events: March 26-31, 2009

by Staff of Gay List Daily

Taking a page right out of the book of Shirley MacLaine, we’d like to be reincarnated as a Roman Emperor. Not only do we have legs to pull off a toga, we are totally sold on a life of gluttony filled with orgies, copious amounts of wine and, of course, a vomitorium! In the meantime, we’ll have to settle for cat fights on Rock of Love Bus instead of gladiator brawls with lions and regular wine tastings rather than hedonistic wine feasts, but we can make it work. Maybe we’ll break out a pair of sandals and a bed sheet to wear to one of this week’s events in preparation.

Wine-o-mite!: Rodney Strong Wine Tasting

Tonight, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Chase away the Thursday-night blues with a nice glass of red. Cork is going from good to grape (we’ve got a million of ’em) with the Rodney Strong Wine Tasting. Enjoy eight wines, including reserve, and meet Rick Sayre, director of winemaking. Want an icebreaker for the crowd? Print up cards with your name and title: “Director of Whine Making.” That gets them every time!

Cost: $5 per person; Cork, Dallas; www.corkwines.com

Sir Mix-a-lot: Cocktail Clinic with Steen Lilja

Friday, March 27, 5:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Okay, admit it. You know all the words to that “hey bartender, what’d you learn in school?” commercial. It’s okay. You’re among friends. We too have been busted singing about Sex On The Beach with Black Russians. But thanks to the Free Cocktail Clinic at Park Cities Prime Steakhouse, we can find out exactly what goes into a Bronx Cocktail or a Corpse Reviver without quitting our day job. And if the booze isn’t enough to lure you in, classes are led by Master Mixologist and certified dreamboat Sten Lilja.

Cost: Free; Park Cities Prime Steakhouse, Dallas; www.parkcitiesprime.com

Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got The Spiel?): Del Shores: The Storyteller

Friday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.

You can’t handle the truth. Well, maybe you can. Dallas fave Del Shore dishes the real-life stories behind some of his hysterical plays and films like Sordid Lives and Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got The Will) in this unscripted one-man show. Sign us up for a night of fly-on-the-wall-fun.

Tickets: $25; KD Actors Studio, Dallas; www.delshores.net/live

Vice, Vice Baby: Chocolate, Wine and Coffee Tasting

Saturday, March 28, 7:00 p.m.

Obviously the people at Hotel St. Germain know us too well. The only way they could make this event more appealing is to have it catered by scantily clad Puerto Rican go-go boys who actually stick a dollar in our underwear just for walking in the door. Nonetheless we will be there ready to sip, suck and taste all the goodness they have to offer.

Cost: $75 per person (reservations required); Hotel St. Germain, Dallas; (214) 871-2516; www.hotelstgermain.com

Goodnight Light: Earth Hour: Lights Out For The Environment’s Sake

Saturday, March 28, 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Don’t make us break out a photo of a crying polar bear to get your attention about global warming. Dallas is one of more than 1,500 cities and towns around the world that has committed to turning off their lights for one hour to conserve energy and raise awareness about the global climate change. The cleverest among you will use this as an opportunity to invite a date over for candlelit dinner only to have the candles get “accidentally” blown out leading to a rousing game of “Guess Whose Hands These Are?”. Smooth, huh.

www.earthhour.org

Similar, But DIFFArent: DIFFA/Dallas 20th Anniversary Collection: Utopia Preview Party

Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS: DIFFA is back for another year of strutting about like a sequin-covered peacock. Be one of the first to get a sneak peek at this year’s coveted Jacket Collection that will be auctioned off at the May 2 event. Plus you get to nibble on cuisine compliments of Wolfgang Puck and sip on “Utopia” cocktails. Hmm, we had a “Utopia” cocktail once and woke up in a Greyhound bathroom in Juarez, but what are the odds of that happening twice?

Cost: $20 suggested donation; Union Station, Dallas; www.diffadallas.org

Penny Three Minutes For Your Thoughts: Dallas Voice’s Freedom of Speech Night

Tuesday, March 31, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m.

So, maybe you’ve been toying with the idea wearing nothing but gold body paint and feather boa while reading aloud the complete works of Sylvia Plath, but didn’t really have the right venue for such an act. Well now you do. The Dallas Voice’s Freedom of Speech Night is a monthly performance contest that gives contestants three minutes of uncensored to time to vent, to perform and to entertain. Weekly winners receive three minutes on the “Jack E Jett” show and a DVtv video of their award-winning performance. All performers receive bottomless cups of coffee. So get your tap shoes and your speech about interspecies NRA memberships ready.

Cost: appropriately enough, free; Buzzbrew’s Kitchen, Dallas; www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=831681389#/event.php?eid=60219372635&ref=mf