Atlanta Black Pride 2006

Preview and tips for the weekend

by j. brotherlove

Atlanta Black Gay Pride 2006 kicks off today. This is their 10th anniversary and it promises to their biggest pride yet. With a truckload of workshops, films, events and parties (including a ton of choices for womyn), there is literally something for everyone. Actually, there’s a bit too much going on all at the same time (catch a glimpse of my calendar).

To spice up this year’s (typically clumsy) theme: Make Way For Revolution - Power & Pride, Joi, Donnie and Kandi will perform at the Opening Ceremony on Friday. Also, there will be plenty of celebrity appearances (a couple of surprises), two spoken word events, Family Feud, a fashion show, the second annual Peace Out South Concert (for the homohop fans), the Black Pride March, and more sightings of Eva “The Diva” Pigford than should be allowed.

Apache Cafe is on point for the weekend, hosting the live album recording of the fabulous Doria Roberts and The House that Jack Built II (Atlanta Salutes House Music). Add the Montreux Jazz Festival and you’ve got one hell of a non-stop weekend in Atlanta.

Here are some tips if you’re headed this way for weekend:

• Buy the ITLA VIP Pass. At $8o, it’s a bargain and pretty much gets you in free to every official ITLA event including discounts at most of the clubs. It’s unfortunate that local club promoters are marketing separate “VIP” passes. It creates a lot of confusion for cardholders. Besides, there’s no way you can physically attend all of the parties in Atlanta this weekend.
• Paying a premium to squeeze into overcrowded clubs ain’t my scene. However, if you decide to go out to the clubs, arrive early. I can’t stress that enough. You can end up standing in lines for most of the night if you don’t (although, sometimes, that’s where the real party is).
• There will be a ridiculous amount of beautiful boys and girls in the city, phine as hell! Just remember the adage, “everything that looks good to you ain’t always good for you”. And while I’m not a condom Nazi, it would really suck for you to have a great time this weekend only to wind up at the clinic next weekend.
• Get your transportation straight. Events are scattered across the metro area and Atlanta has the worst taxi service of any large city I know. Unless you are staying and partying in the downtown, Midtown or Buckhead area, you will get owned trying to make it to events.
• If you are staying with friends or associates, show some decorum and offer some type of gratuity (money, dinner, gas money, groceries, drinks) for the inconvenience. I don’t care how close you are with your host, staying with someone for four nights without offering anything is tacky.

If you see me around, stop and say hello. I’ll be the sexy, quiet one in black.

See also:
Welcome to Atlanta… | His Story

I thought your last suggestion was going to be, “Don’t bring your trade back to your host’s home without first getting an okay” which would be good advice even if you didn’t say it. LOL

Now see, Bernie… I was hoping your suggestion was a “no-brainer”. But now that I think about it, guests take this liberty all the time. That’s not only tacky, it’s potentially dangerous.

YES! and especially tacky when they don’t share.. I mean.. um…… * back to work *

I must agree the taxi system here has got to be the absolute worse unless you are at the airport, besides how the spread out the city is you will be paying a day’s rental in one ride.