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by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS

Dining for Life &
11th Annual Aids Walk
Benefits ASA Austin

Coming up Oct. 5th & 18th, Aids Services of Austin (ASA) will host two big events to benefit the organization and 15 other HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Central Texas area. ASA provides hospice care, conduct prevention education, offers counseling for people with HIV, and other valuable services. These upcoming benefits are ASA's biggest fundraisers.

On Mon., Oct. 5, ASA hosts Dining for Life, which is a dining event throughout Austin to benefit HIV/AIDS agencies. The event allows patrons of local restaurants to eat, drink and be merry and the restaurants will, in turn, donate a portion of the money spent on one's meal to ASA. With over 85 restaurants participating in the event, one is sure to find his favorite eating establishment. Patrons who wish to dine out on that Monday need only bring in their ticket segment coupon and the proceeds will be donated. A complete listing of all restaurants and additional information may be obtained by contacting ASA at 512.406.6175 or by visiting their Web site at www.aidswalkaustin.org and download the tickets.

The 11th Annual Aids Walk Austin will be held on Sun., Oct. 11 at Waterloo Park. The Walk is a five-kilometer fundraising walk benefiting AIDS Services of Austin and 15 other HIV and other AIDS service providers in Central Texas. The event starts and ends in Waterloo Park, 12th and Red River. The Walk sign-in begins at 12 noon with the Walk beginning at 2pm. Closing ceremonies are immediately following the Walk. Last year, each walker raised an average of $125, but any amount is appreciated. All who raise over $125 will receive an AIDS Walk T-shirt and prizes go up from there. for information on the Walk, call ASA at 512.452.WALK (9255).

United Court of Austin
Hosts Investiture Show

Investiture for the 5th Reign of the United Court of Austin is when reigning monarchs, Pride of the Diamond Phoenix Excalibur - The Royal Emerald Lion, Emperor V, Bob Hemby, and the Diamond Crystal Venus, Empress V, Cecilia Martay, confer titles upon their Line of Succession. Investiture will be held on Sat., Sept 26 with the ceremony from 3 to 5pm and buffet and reception from 5 - 7pm at Rainbow Cattle Company. To date, announcements to the Court have been Crown Prince Royale V, Catarino Reyes, and Crown Princess Royale V, Dee Dee Davis. The benefit show, entitled "A Celebration of Love and Courage," will be held at the Rainbow Cattle Company from 7 until 9pm. The show benefits the C.A.R.E. program as well as the Pediatric AIDS League. The theme for this year is "The Reign of Love & Courage."

Last Splash & RIP'D Parties~
Biggest & Best In Three Years

(The following article features Last Splash & RIP'D by cub reporter Vinny DuDonis, who experienced his first circuit parties as a virgin, but a veteran of Splash. Added insights were given by Eric A. Crabtree)

Last Splash in itself is a phenomenal event with the Austin Tavern Guild hosting their 15th annual [Last Splash] at Hippie Hollow at Lake Travis. Add in a RIP'D Party weekend hosted by Splash Productions and Ben Parsley, and it feels as if you've gone to Heaven. As a 6-year veteran of Last Splash, the biggest Gay party weekend of the year, this was my first RIP'D weekend. All I have to say is WOW!

The 1998 Last Splash/RIP'D Weekend officially started at the Got 2B There movie at Dobie Mall hosted by the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) and the wrap-up party at Austin's own Splash Video Bar early Friday evening. The party then moved over to the 1920's Club for the Pre-Welcome to Austin Party. There the boys enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and complimentary foods. After being satisfied with a little food and a cocktail or two, we found ourselves moving over to Oilcan Harry's for the First Call. With the mixing talents of DJs Dig'm, Miss H and Licious, you just had to enjoy the dancing men that were all over the bar in the nooks and crannies until the wee hours of the morning.

Once we had a little rest, we traveled over to the other events around town where there was fun to be had by all. There was the Forum's Roman Holiday Weekend, the Edge's Gilligan's Island Retreat, the live bands up at Rhythm House and even Rainbow's Jumping Jack Splash. Everywhere around town, something was happening. The next day, Sat., it was time for the Rum Run at Hippie Hollow. At this lovely little site, we swam and got down on the dancing barges with all those sweaty, sexy, hard body men that make us wonder why we do not hit the gym more often. The combination of men, wonderful weather, a little food and a lot of drink and good music (spun by the ever impressive Michael Tank) made for a good priming for the party that was just waiting to happen later on that evening. I met and partied with Keith Willard who managed this watery event that day with the help of Brandon and Doug, the barge crewmen and yes, the barge captains. Thank you guys as well as Ben Parsley and Splash Productions.

After we freshened up from the festivities on the lake, it was time to party the night away. The city of Austin was hopping within the bars and clubs that held events to please the crowds. It was buzzing with hot men and women making the scene from 'Bout Time to Midtowne over to Chain Drive and everywhere in between. Yes, the holiday weekend was well underway and had arrived! As some of you know, it gets a little crowded within any one bar, so after a while, one had to take a little breather and visit the other bars. There was nothing wrong and it was all good with the man population in Austin and it was overheard on Sat. night, at least, that the city had transformed into a sea of hot bottoms.

Somehow many managed to end up at Austin Music Hall for RIP'D which is a great place to have a party. I have been waiting a long time for something like this. Let's just say the only place that the men were not packed together was behind the bar! It was instant gratification. It reminded me of the first time ever I was in a Gay bar, which was Charlie's Austin some years ago, and I screamed to myself, "Oh my God!" The men, tribal dancing, all lit up with glow sticks in the air, made the event the most memorable time in my life. You started dancing and just could not stop until you where about to pass out from lack of a beverage. We downed the thirst-quenching water (it's in the water you know) and ran right back out onto the dance floor to be accosted once again by a plethora of body parts-whew! The circuit dancers, flaggers and all us circuit boys partied until dawn with the sounds from DJ Julian Marsh (NYC).

Sunday was time for Last Splash and back out to Hippie Hollow. We got there late due to having danced the night away on Saturday and arrived to see that the Austin Tavern Guild Barge had started to pull away because they had run out of their 10 kegs earlier. Needless to say, we still partied onward because there were so many people in the Hollow. They were on the rocks, in the water, on a ton of boats and in the "wooded area." This is always a sight to behold. According to the Travis County Park System, some 2000 Last Splashers came through the gates, over 700 cars, and over 100 boats, barges and jet skies traveled in from the harbors and docks. It was overheard that this was the busiest and best Last Splash in some years and that it could not have gotten any better than this.

After leaving the lake for the last time that weekend, it was time for a revival for the soul, body and mind. The place for that was the Forum. If you were to stand outside of, let's see, Oilcan's and look in the direction of the Forum, there were all these hot men on the top of the building. It was just as busy inside. Over at the other clubs, Sunday seemed like a Saturday night all over again with everything from the Austin Babtist Women performing at Rainbow to the free BBQ & shows at Charlie's Austin over to the shower dancers at Dick's and onto the construction parties at Chain Drive. It was like a dream.

The final RIP'D Party for the weekend was the Resurrection Party at La Zona Rosa. Like its predecessor at the Austin Music Hall, the men were crawling up the walls, and they didn't stop dancing until the brink of early dawn. More good music was provided by DJ Brian Norwood from Atlanta. This was the perfect party to wind down, or shall I say wind back up the weekend and to start thinking about next year. Monday came and we saw some leftover stragglers around, but it seemed that everybody had shot their wad earlier. I for one am definitely going to be there for next year's events and fun. I would be happy to see all of you back next year as well. Bring more friends too. You know what they say, "the more the merrier!" As one hot man from California stated, "Thanks so much for having us here in Austin, We had the best time ever and forget Southern Decadence for Labor Day, Austin has it going on!"

Capital City Men's Chorus Needs You!

For those who want to sing ... Regular season rehearsals begin Sept. 14. The first four (4) regular rehearsals of the season (always on Monday nights) are "open rehearsals" in which any potential new member may attend. Rehearsals begin at 7:15pm at University United Methodist Church at 25th and Guadalupe, Austin, TX (enter through the Education Bldg.). Potential new members are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to receive information on the chorus and meet with the artistic director for voice placement.

For those who want to volunteer their time ... This is the CCMC's 10th anniversary season, help build the CCMC's volunteer support group-the Guild! If you are interested in ushering at concerts, helping with bulk mailings, doing light office work, or helping with fundraising, please call 512.477.SING. A Community Director position is also available on the Board of Directors. Help make the 10th Anniversary a year to remember!

Here's what to expect in the chorus's 10th Anniversary Season: Holiday Concert, Dec. 12, 8pm; Dec. 13, 4pm. Sweetheart Cabaret, Feb. 13, 1999, time to be announced. Spring Concert, Mar. 20, 1999, 8pm, Mar. 21, 1999, 4pm. Pride Concert, May 22, 1999, 8pm.

All concerts will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin. The debut of the CCMC's first Compact Disc recording is due to be released later this fall! Watch you mailbox for the 10th Anniversary Season brochure!

For more information, call 477-SING or visit their Web site at www.io.com/~ccmcaus.

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