Blind Item: My apologies to Michael. The only "David" you resemble was sculpted by Michelangelo.

Nightclub News

On Sunday, February 16th, Austin bartending legend Kindell Bagley served his last Austin cocktail when he concluded his shift at Dick’s Deja Disco. For the past 25 years, Kindell has been a fixture in the Austin club scene, having worked at all the major nightclubs in town.

He is now soaking up the sun in Galveston, where he has moved to open the Third Coast Bar in the space that formerly housed Jimmy’s on the Beach, at the corner of 9th and Seawall. Reflecting on his Austin legacy, Kindell said, "for the past 25 years I’ve enjoyed the support and acceptance of the community. Even though I’m going on to a new adventure, the memories and people who have touched my life will never leave my heart. When I look back knowing that I’m leaving the town, my heart is full of the memories of the people who are with us, and those who aren’t. And each and every one of you will stay in my heart and go wherever I go."

Sean McAnelly has assumed the management responsibilities at Dick’s Deja Disco, and he is already planning several exciting events for the Spring season. The club will celebrate Mardi Gras on Tuesday, March 4th, with dancers, drink specials, and special give-aways including a pair of tickets to the Broadway tour of the smash-hit musical "Mamma Mia."

Congratulations to Gene Broadwater, Cory Sansoucy, and Dee Dee Davis, the newly crowned Mr./Ms./Miss Rainbow Cattle Company, respectively. The exciting competition this past February 16th featured eight incredibly talented contestants and numerous out-of-town performers. Plus, the event raised $970 for the Wright House Wellness Center.

On Friday, February 28th, Rainbow Cattle Company owner Andy Redmond turns 25 years old. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Andy’s staging one of the biggest club nights of the season, with $1.75 anything in the house, dancers all night, and lots of surprises.

On Wednesday, March 12th, Miss Taylor Trinity hosts Lipstick Lounge at The Forum, 408 Congress Avenue. The entertainment starts at 11 p.m. with a dazzling show featuring Satine, Nadine, Talor Barin, Olivia Samms, Goldie Haynes, Chlamydia Burns, Adora Belle, Miss Shannon and Orgazma Cumalot. DJ Filthy Rich spins from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. And Michael Sym hosts the Karaoke Idol competition on Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m. with special entertainment by Goldie Haynes, Kelly Kline, and Taylor Trinity, and $250 in grand prizes up for grabs.

And Travis Hyde, the current reigning Mr. Austin Leather, hopes to add another victory to his resume. Travis travels to Dallas this weekend to compete for the title of Mr. South Plains Leather 2003 during the annual South Plains Leatherfest. He will also join thousands of leathermen and leatherwomen in Chicago during the Memorial Day weekend for the International Mr. Leather 2003 competition.

aGLIFF at the Oscars

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) celebrates the 75th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 23rd, with the gala "aGLIFF at the Oscars" at the Dell Jewish Community Center, 7300 Hart Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the awards ceremony starting at 7 p.m. Oscar party attendees will be greeted on the red carpet by a Joan Rivers type personality who will greet and critique attendees Oscar wear. aGLIFF will project the show live on two of the largest screens available in Austin to view the awards.

Last year, close to 350 people attended the gala to celebrate and cheer on the nominees and winners. aGLIFF expects more than 400 people to attend this year’s Oscar celebration. Attendees will enjoy complimentary pre-show champagne toasts and food from some of Austin’s finest restaurants and caterers. A cash bar will also be available. During commercial breaks, Jenn Garrison - Austin’s media maven, local celebrity filmmaker, and this year’s Oscar host - will entertain awards viewers with past Award highlights and bloopers, film memorabilia give-always and a silent auction.

Admission is $20 general admission, $18 for aGLIFF members, and $140 for a reserved table (maximum of 8 people per table). Advance tickets can be ordered on line at www.agliff.org. For more information, call (512) 302-9889.

Arts and Entertainment

Tinderbox13.com presents The Rawk Show at Gallery Lombardi, 910 West 3rd Street, from March 6th through April 5th. The exhibit features original artwork and photography by music superstars such as Nina Hagen, Concrete Blonde, L7, Hole, Lunachicks, Bis, Lords of Acid, BETTY, Rasputina, Faith & the Muse, and more. The opening party will be on Thursday, March 13th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with live music from the Dirty Sweets, the Applicators, Petty Booka (from Japan), and Hang on the Box (from China). For more information, please visit on-line at tinderbox13.com or email tinderbox13@hotmail.com

VORTEX Repertory Company will stage La Lune Noire, the dark of the moon dance party on Saturday, March 1st, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Admission is only $10, and proceeds benefit the VORTEX Café Renovation Fund. The event promises a night of music, stars, and blackness to dance the long, dark night away, including DJ’s, a dancefloor, chill-out lounge, entertainment of the VORTEX variety, beer, wine, snacks, jello shots, and irreverent fun from the wildest little alternative theatre in Texas. The VORTEX is located at 2307 Manor Road, 1/2 mile east of IH-35, between Chestnut and Maple. For more information, call (512) 478-LAVA or visit www.vortexrep.org.

The Salvage Vanguard Theatre presents Lisa D’Amour’s unusual love story "16 Spells to Charm the Beast," on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings through March 8th. Lillian Davis, a self-proclaimed "sophisticated metropolitan housewife" falls in love with a made-up man named Jonathon Keene Archipelago Redbreast. Or is that the name of the bona fide Beast who’s stalking her? And is the Beast building that horrible building that’s blocking her incredible high rise apartment view? Tickets are $15 on Saturdays and Sundays, and Thursdays are "Starving Artist Nite" with half off tickets with a canned food donation. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo Street. For more information, visit http://www.salvagevanguard.org.

sharon bridgforth, an Austin Latina/Latino Lesbian, Gay, bisexual & transgender Organization (ALLGO) 2002-2003 artist-in-residence, is calling for proposals from poets/spoken word and performance artists. bridgforth will work with three writers interested in exploring the creative process of developing a non-linear work. Writers will be asked to present a reading of the work in the Spring. Interested writers should submit a completed first draft of the work proposed for development, a biography, and a statement that includes information about why you are proposing to work with bridgforth and what you hope to get out of the process. Submit proposal packages to Ixchel Rosal, Artistic Director; c/o ALLGO; 701 Tillery Street, Box 4; Austin, Texas 78702. Submission deadline is March 1, 2003.

Mark Your Calendars!

March 1 - La Lune Noire party at the VORTEX Theatre, 2307 Manor Road. Call (512) 478-LAVA or visit www.vortexrep.org for more information.

March 4 - Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby STAMP Night, every Tuesday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Volunteers meet to discuss and work on LGRL’s non-discrimination in education initiatives. For more information, email Colin at colin@lgrl.org

March 5 - The United Court of Austin and Stoli Vodka present "Wet and Wild Wednesdays" the first Wednesday of the month at Bout Time, 9601 IH 35, with drink specials and entertainment. For more information, call the club at (512) 832-5339

March 5 - The Austin Night Flyers Rugby Football Club practices on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information, visit www.austinnightflyers.org or e-mail texfite@aol.com.

March 9 - "Saints and Sinners" fund-raising show at Chain Drive 504 Willow, featuring the Austin Babtist Women and the United Court of Austin. For more information, call the club at (512) 480-9017.

March 15 - Fundraiser at the Chain Drive, 504 Willow, to send Travis Hyde to the International Mr. Leather competition in Chicago. For more information, call the club at (512) 480-9017.

March 23 - Austin Men’s Softball organizational meeting for the Summer I season will be held at 3 p.m. at Rainbow Cattle Company, 305 West 5th Street. For more information, call (512) 445-5242, e-mail AGSR@austin.rr.com, or visit www.agsr.org

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