by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS
aGLIFF '99 Premiers
The 12th annual Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is upon us starting on Aug. 26 and running through Sept. 9. aGLIFF features the largest film festival of its kind in the Southwest and the oldest film festival in Austin. A free outdoor screening of The Resurgence of the Drive-in will be held on Thurs., Aug. 26 at 4th and Guadalupe. A gigantic 25' x 35' screen will be hung on 4th St. between San Antonio & Guadalupe with a surprise film projected at 8pm making it a big Gay block party. The opening night film for aGLIFF this year is Trick on Fri., Aug. 27 at the Paramount Theater. To accommodate festival moviegoers, aGLIFF is expanding its screening venues this year to include the Dobie Theater, the Paramount, the Village Theater, General Cinema Highland Theater and the Alamo Draft Cinema. Also, new to the festival this year is a nationwide screenplay competition. The winner will receive a cash award and prominent producers in the industry will read the winning screenplay.
aGLIFF's main event will be an evening with director and author John Waters cosponsored by the Austin Film Society on Thurs., Sept. 2 at the Highland 10 Cinema. Other highlights of the festival include Bedrooms and Hallways, Beefcake, Queer as Folk, The Velocity of Gary, When Love Comes, Hit and Runway, and Show Me Love. Ambush will be sponsoring In the Flesh for the aGLIFF Film Festival Southwest Premier on Sept. 5 at 9:45pm at the Dobie Theater. In the Flesh is about a young man leading a double life - a student by day, a street hustler by night - who finds his worlds colliding & is accused of murder. Gypsy Boys has recently been added in a world premiere on Sept. 4 at the Village Theater at 7:30pm. The director and cast will attend. Gypsy Boys is a Gay romantic comedy featuring a diverse group of young men searching for love in San Francisco's vibrant nightlife.
Speedway Junkie is a moving portrait of lost youths struggling to find themselves at the end of the twentieth century. The closing night film will be Better than Chocolate on Thurs., Sept. 9 at the Village Theater. aGLIFF's '99 schedule can be found throughout Gay & Lesbian Austin at bars, clubs, and businesses. The Festival will screen nearly 130 films and video projects produced primarily by and for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community. Tickets for aGLIFF members go on sale Aug. 20 and for the general public on Aug 27. More info on aGLIFF can be found at 512.302.9889 or the Web at www.agliff.org or aGLIFF Box Office at Dobie Mall.
Last Splash Scheduled
Austin is the place to be this coming Labor Day weekend when the Austin Tavern Guild (ATG) hosts its annual Last Splash Sun., Sept. 5 from noon till 4pm at Hippie Hollow, Lake Travis. Last Splash weekend runs from Fri., Sept. 3 through Labor Day, Mon., Sept. 6. Beer, barges, boats, music and hot basking on the rocks like seals are in store. Free wristbands may be obtained from all ATG members on Sat., Sept. 4 for free beer from the host barge on the lake. Last Splash is Gay & Lesbian Austin's last summer event sponsored by ATG. Members of the ATG who proudly host Last Splash include Ambush, 'Bout Time, Charlie's Austin, The Forum , Midtowne Spa, Oilcan Harry's, and Rainbow Cattle Company. Others are Splash Video Bar, The Texas Triangle & The United Court of Austin. Last Splash also includes sponsor Capital City Beverage - Coors Brewing Co.
Perfect Day '99 Slated
Ben Parsley and Splash Productions present Perfect Day '99 (party formerly known as RIP'D) in Austin on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-6. On Thurs. from 8pm -2am it's "The Tease" hosted at Oilcan Harry's with DJs Dig `M & Licious. Also featured will be DanceOne doing their special video shoot. Additional THEO-MEN Calendar Models will be featured at Oilcans. Fri. night it's "Foreplay" at Splash Video Bar and Patio Lot from 8pm - 4am. DJ Don Bishop (Palm Springs) spins with $10 admission at the door. Sat. brings the "Margarita's Lake Lounge" from 11am - 5pm at Hippie Hollow, Lake Travis with DJ Michael Tank (Houston). Tickets are $60. Sat. night brings Perfect Day '99 with "Sex in the Park" at the Austin Music Hall from 9pm - 5am with DJ Roland Belmares (Austin). Tickets are $30 adv /$35 door.
Morning brings on Last Splash Sun. "Bump & Grind" hosted at Twist Nightclub with DJ Martone Laurence (Miami) spinning from 4:30am - 10am. Tickets are $10 at the door. Last Splash Sun. it's "Afternoon Delight" from 5pm - 10pm on the Forum rooftop with DJ Jamie J (San Francisco). Tickets are $10 at the door. Perfect Day ' 99 wraps up Sun. night with "Climax" at La Zona Rosa from 10pm till dawn. DJ David Knapp (New York) will be pumping the beat. Tickets are $25 adv./$30 door. A VIP Weekend Pass for Perfect Day '99is only $120 (includes all 8 events). Student discounts are available for only $20 at Perfect Day 99 "Sex in the Park" at the Austin Music Hall. Student discounts are available for $15 for "Climax" at La Zona Rosa. Add $20 extra for the bus from the host hotels to Lake Travis and back. VIP tickets are available at Lobo Bookstore, N8 Wear and Outlines. More info. on Perfect Day '99 may be obtained by calling 888.558.1791 (512.478.1791 in Austin).
Watch www.partyaustin.com for updates and or E-mail benpar@io.com. Host hotels are the Radisson on Town Lake @ $120 (walking distance to all events except the lake) and the HomeStead Village (on 1st and Barton Springs Rd) from $67 - $84 (about 6 blocks further away from the Radisson). You will need to book through Splash Productions to get these rates at 888.558.1791. Those looking for airfare may get a discount with American Airline Discount by calling 800.433.1790 Number: 7899UK.
Quick Tea Tales of Queers
The coronation and shows of the United Court of Austin were held recently; however, due to press time pressure, the court will be featured in the next Ambush.
Over at 'Bout Time - congrats to couple Ben Pena (a.k.a. Diana Dior) and Wayne Marion on celebrating 19 years together this month with their anniversary party held Sat., Aug. 28 at 10:30pm. Miss Paula is the new PMS Happy Hour bartender. Other events at 'Bout Time are Karoake Mon. with Madam Murrah at 8pm. Tues. is Prize Night at 7:30pm and Wed. is South Park at 9pm. Thurs. it's their Pool Tourney at 9pm. The Metropolitan Church (MCC Austin) is close to beginning its building project on S. First St. MCC also will host ACT (Adult Christian Training). More info. can be obtained by calling the church office at 512.708.8002 or from their Web site at www.flash.net/~mcca.
Forum's circuit DJ Ro is still spinning at the Forum Wed. and Fri. nights. Rumor has it he might be moving temporarily to Miami and someday we might all hear DJ Ro's mix of Madonna's new song. Congrats to Charlie's Austin's winner Thomas Henson who won a trip to Key West at Charlie's 15th Anniversary. Thomas left last Fri., the 13th. Over at Splash Video Bar, summer time is still hot with their "All Male Interactive Summer." Splash also welcomes Bobby as their new happy hour bartender. Are you a Gay male between ages of 18-29? Check out the Austin's Men's Project (AMP) offering movies, sports, interaction, groups, outings, etc. at 1215 West Mary St. More info on AMP can be obtained at 512.447.4270 or E-mail at ampproject@aol.com. Are your friends on AmbushAustin ONELIST yet? The ONELIST is an E-mail that is sent out to inform Austin on upcoming Gay, Lesbian, Bi & Transgender events, happenings & announcements. Subscribe at: www.onelist.com/subscribe/AmbushAustin.
Ginger and Sarah returned recently from their New Zealand trip where they have been performing to enthusiastic crowds. Their CD, Do What You Will, has a new cover, which you will all see when they get back to Austin. Catch Ginger and Sarah on Fri., Aug. 27 at Central Market Central at 6:30pm. On Sat. Aug 28, they can be found at the Austin's Cue Lounge at 10pm or on Tue., Aug. 31 at Shaggy's at 9:30pm. Congrats to new owner Mike Strope at Rainbow Cattle Company. Bill Bailey has left Texas and has headed West with new partner, David. Dick's these days is even wilder than ever. Have you checked out their new shower dancers and karaoke mixes? Rumor has it that Alvi and Cody of N8 Wear are moving to Houston later this year but wanted all to know that N8 Wear is still open for business as usual and just in time for Last Splash and Perfect Day '99. Lastly, check out my recent journey in my column Fabulous Fun Rocks New England complete with pictures from Boston. Special thanks goes to former Austinite, Clifton Vinal for making my mini-vacation all happen for me. The next edition of Ambush will feature part 2 of that journey in New Hampshire Cape Code and yes, P-Town.
