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Social Notes
The Sometimes-Weekly Goings-On of Houston's Lesbian Community
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  This page was updated on Sunday, Sept. 5th, 2010
     
REGULAR WEEKLY/MONTHLY EVENTS
     
 
New Master Calendar for Houston's GLBT Community
Social Notes focuses on the main events in Houston's lesbo community, but let's face it - I
can't cover everything, and there are some events that I choose not to cover (shot specials
at Chances, for example).  That's why I am glad to introduce you to a new Master Calendar
for Houston's GLBT community.  The site is called
Do713 (pronounced Dew seven one
three).  Using the drop down box at the top left of the site, you can search for GLBT
listings.  It'll take a while to get everyone used to using the site, but I think this is a great
resource and I hope you'll pass the word along!
     
 
Steak Night at The Usual
Tuesdays from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at The Usual
Gotta love those gals at The Usual.  They are always working hard to provide a variety of
reasons to come have a few at their bar!  Tuesdays are Steak Night.  For $10, you get an 8
oz. ribeye steak, baked potato and a Lone Star Bar.  What, you say one Lone Star beer just
isn't enough?  Well, then how 'bout $1 Lone Stars all night long!  
The Usual is located at the
southwest corner of TC Jester and Allen St, between I-10 and Washington.  
     
 
Open Mic Nights at the Usual
Wednesdays from 8 pm til midnight at The Usual
Wednesdays are you chance to introduce your musical stylings to Houston.  Step up to the
mic and sing your heart out!  And on the second Wednesday of each month, GoGirls
performers will be in the mix.  The Usual is located at the southwest corner of TC Jester
and Allen St, between I-10 and Washington.
     
 
Free Thursday Night C&W Dance Lessons at BRB
Thursday nights at Brazos River Bottom (BRB)
Please join us each Thursday night at the BRB (2400 Brazos) for free dance lessons and
lots of Open Dancing.  The BRB is becoming quite the Hot Spot to be on Thursday nights,
whether its to take the lessons, or to just dance to some great C&W tunes by DJ Dave.   
You don't have to bring a dance partner with you in order to take the lessons. TRUST !!!
There's lots of people to meet and dance with.  The Line Dance lesson starts at 8:30. The
Couples dance lesson starts around 9:30. There's lot of Open Dancing before, between and
after the lessons.
     
 
Thursday Book Club
Third Thursday of Each Month, 5:30 to 7 pm at The Montrose Library
Norma is our official facilitator for September’s month’s book, “Pharoah’s Friend” by Nancy
Yawitz Linkous.  As a result of her efforts, we have the good fortune of having Nancy
Yawitz Linkous lead our discussion of her book on Thursday September 16, 2010  from 5:30
to 7:00 P.M. in the upstairs meeting room of the Montrose Library located at 4100
Montrose.  We will gather at 5:30 and start our discussion at 5:45 P.M.  Afterwards we will
go to Baba Yega Restaurant which is located at 2607 Grant (corner of Grant and Missouri --
one block east of Montrose and two blocks north of Westheimer).

The Thursday Book Group in Houston is open to lesbians and lesbian-friendly women
interested in expanding their horizons by reading and discussing books they might not
discover on their own. The group selects quality fiction and non-fiction about women or
written by women. No mysteries, romances, or self-help books. If you would like to go to
the Yahoo group website,
click here.  If you have questions about the group, email Carolyn.  
     
 
Free C&W Dance Lessons at BRB
2nd and 4th Fridays, 9 pm at Brazos River Bottom (BRB)
The Dreamcatchers dance group offers free C&W dance lessons on the 2nd and 4th Fridays
of each month.  Open dancing starts at 8:30 and lessons begin around 9 pm.  BRB offers 50
cent beer on the patio and drink specials all night long.  
BRB is located at 2400 Brazos, in
the Mid-Town area (behind Spec’s.)
     
 
A2 40 Social Happy Hours
Every second Friday 6pm-11pm, at The Flat Bar (Montose area)
A2 40 is a promotions group which produces a variety of social events.  The Flat Bar is
located at 1701 Commonwealth, two Blocks south of West Gray between Haddon and
Nevada Street.  (713) 521-3528
     
 
Queer Bingo, Hosted by the GLBT Community Center
The first Saturday of each month, 4 pm, at Ones A Meal on Westheimer
Playing location is the second floor ballroom of One's A Meal at 812 Westheimer Road at
Grant Street.  The time of the Center's regular bingo game and social event has been
moved to 4-6:30 p.m. to give  players a chance to get their bingo on and still have time for
Saturday night plans. Doors open at 4 p.m. and games begin at 4:30 p.m. Our monthly 50/50
raffle benefits worthy Houston GLBT groups. Bingo proceeds support Center programming.
Email questions to the Center
Treasurer
     
 
The Womens' Group
Sundays at 10:15 am at the First Unitarian Universalist Church
The Women's Group - pictured here in a typical feminist hot tub situation  - is a feminist
group for all women, (each woman defines her own feminism), that meets every Sunday at
10:15AM in the Sojourner Truth Room, 3rd floor of the First Unitarian Universalist Church,
5200 Fannin, at Southmore (elevator accessible). For more information call Iris Sizemore
at 713-529-8571.  Click
here for their yahoo group.
     
SPECIAL NOTICES
     
 
Community Newsletters You Should Sign Up For
Although Social Notes does its best to keep you informed, the truth is that we can possibly
cover everything that our wonderful community has to offer.  To help keep you "In The
Know", I highly recommend that you sign yourself up for these other community
newsletters.  The links below will either provide you with the sign up page where available,
or the email address you use to request to be added to their list.
Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI)
AssistHers
Montrose Counseling Center
GLBT Community Center
Pride Houston
Out & Equal Houston
     
UPCOMING EVENTS
     
 
House Concert :  Lisa Ferraro and Erika Luckett
Thursday, September 9th, 6:30 pm, 3202 Rustling Moss Drive
This concert is being held at a private home, and seats truly are limited, so get yours today.
 The meet and greet will be held from 6:30 to 7:30, and the concert starts at 7:30.  You
can find out more about the artists by clicking
here.
Tickets are $20.  For reservations:  Cell: 713-502-9297   Home: 281-444-7669
     
 
If You Think You Can Still Hoop Basketball Tournament
Sunday, September 12th, 8am to 6 pm at the Woodland Community Center
A2 40 presents their 2nd annual charity basketball tournament.  First prize is $500, and
2nd and 3rd place win trophies.  There is still room for your team, regardless of your skill
level.   $15.00 Donation.   Fruit & water will be provided.  For more info,, check out the A2
40
website.  The Community Center is located at 212 Parkview Avenue
     
     
 
LGBT Center Awareness Day at the GLBT Community Center
Wednesday, September 15th, noon to 8 pm, 3400 Montrose, Suite 207
LGBT Center Awareness Day, is a day of action organized by CenterLink, the national
organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community centers. The theme for
2010 is "Building Our Community from the Center." Locally, the Center will host an
open-house reception from noon until 8 p.m., featuring Center programs and Center
community partners, including the Charles Botts Memorial Archives and Library, QFest,
Gulf Coast Archive and Musem of GLBT History, Team Houston, Texas Transgender
Non-Discrimination Summit, and Unhinged Productions. At the same time, the Center will
hold an opening-night reception for a new exhibition in the Center art gallery of
GLBT-themed quilts created by the artist Mike Kelley.
The Center is located at 3400 Montrose Blvd., Suite 207. The phone number is
713.524.3818.  
Click here to visit their website.  
     
 
Sing for Hope - a Benefit for Bering Omega Community Center
Saturday, September 18th, at Cullen Hall, Wortham Theater Center
Embraced by top corporate leaders and the Houston community for the past 16 years, Sing
For Hope is one of the city's social highlights. Every year
Bering Omega friends and
supporters come together and listen to the artists who lift their voices in service to people
living with HIV & AIDS.  The HSPVA Chorus, CANTARE Houston, VOX-the Rob Seible
Singers, and nine other opera singers will join event founder Camille Zamora for an
incredible performance.

Ticket Pricing  (
click here to purchase on-line)
$250 Priority Seating
$150 Preferred Seating
$100 General Seating
$50 Student Seating (must have ID)

All Guests will enjoy a truly unique musical experience at the Cullen Theatre as the
talented cast of international opera stars perform their favorite Arias and Broadway show
tunes.  The evening will conclude with Encore!, our champagne and dessert reception with
the artists on stage immediately following the show.  
     
 
Still Misbehavin' - a Fundraiser for Bayou City Performing Arts
Sunday, September 19th, 2pm to 6pm, Sycamore Height Bed and Breakfast
Bayou City Performing Arts is the umbrella organization that includes The Gay Men's Chorus
and The Bayou City Women's Chorus, along with several smaller ensemble groups.  These
talented singers work oh so hard to bring us quality programs throughout the year.  Please
plan to attend this casual afternoon of song to help support them!  Tickets are $15 in
advance/$20 at the door.  The Sycamore Heights Bed and Breakfast is located at 245 W.
18th at Rutland.  To buy your tickets on-line, click
here.
     
 
Monday Night Women's Bowling League - Planning Meeting
Monday, September 20th, 6:30 pm, at Del Mar Lanes
This is an organizational meeting for the league.  They'll be setting up teams and going over
the rules.  Del Mar Lanes is located at 3020 Mangum Road,   713-682-2506.
For more information, contact
Cindy Cuellar or Pat DeCarlo.
     
 
Out&Equal September Happy Hour
Thursday, September 23rd, 5:30 to 7:30, at Habaneros Mex-Grill
The wonderful folks at Habaneros Mex-Grill in Midtown are reserving a private room for us
and providing light munchies.  They will also be offering special happy hour cocktails and a
brand new happy hour menu.  Parking is available in lots on either side of the restaurant as
well as on the surrounding streets.

This will be a great opportunity to network  --  and for those that are heading to the
Workplace Summit in Los Angeles plan for meeting up.  Feel free to share this invite with
the members of your company employee group.

Out & Equal Houston's mission is to provide educational and networking programs which
empower organizations, HR professionals, employee resource groups, and individual
employees to create and maintain inclusive work environments for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people.
     
 
Houston Wine Fest
Saturday and Sunday, September 25th and 26th at Sam Houston Park
Calling all wine lovers and the people who love them! Be a part of history as we launch the
Inaugural Houston Wine Fest – a wine festival dedicated to culture, food, entertainment,
and most importantly, wine.  The Houston Wine Fest (HWF) will delight you with a showcase
of over 200 wines from all over the world, as well as a host of specialty food, novelty and
accessory merchants who’ve been carefully selected for their unique offerings to the wine
lover in all of us. Additionally, many of Houston’s finest restaurants will be on-hand, cooking
up their favorite food pairings to compliment the many and varied wine samplings that will
be available at the festival.

Sam Houston Park, nestled in the heart of downtown at 1100 Bagby, is one of the city’s
oldest parks, well known for its beautiful trees, gorgeous greenery & historical
significance.   And no great wine tasting would be worth its grapes without the perfect
music selection to go along with it.  Our own Houston Symphony will be on stage, along with
everything from big band, to jazz to salsa.  

The Houston Wine Festival will benefit the Texas Children’s Hospital and through a
partnership, KUHF, Houston’s NPR affiliated station.  Tickets are $35 for one day or $64
for both days.  For more information, visit their
website.
     
 
Fais Do Do - a Benefit for Krewe of Olympus
Saturday, October 2nd, 7 to 10:30 pm, Sycamore Heights Bed and Breakfast
Come join us for Food, Fun, and Friends!
$35 Door donation
Open Bar
Cajun Dinner
Raffle for $1000 Gift Card
Silent Auction
Art Sale

The Sycamore Heights B&B is located at 245 W. 18th St.

Krewe of Olympus is a Mardi Gras Krewe, now based in Houston, Texas USA, that started
in New Orleans in 1970. They are one of the largest predominately gay Krewes in the
United States, although our membership is open to all.   Their principal aims are to present
theatrical and educational events that perpetuate and continue Mardi Gras traditions and
to raise money for community charities. Since moving to Texas, we've donated hundreds of
thousands of dollars to Houston and Dallas Charitable Organizations. We are a 501(c)(3) non
profit organization.   
Click here to find out more about Krewe of Olympus
     
 
Decadent Desserts and More - 10th Anniversary!
Sunday, October 10th, 4 to 8 pm at South Beach
Decadent Desserts is one of the premier lesbo gatherings each year, and it's one of
AssistHers primary fundraising vehicles.  How cool that their 10th anniversary will be
celebrated on 10/10!   Here's the basic concept:  for the modest entry price of $25 ($30
at the door), you get to mix and mingle and sample the scrumptious food offerings of many
of our city's best bakeries, caterers, and restaurants, who are manning tables throughout
the bar.  Raffles and entertainment round out a very fun Sunday afternoon.  You can buy
your tickets by clicking
here.
     
 
Carol's Holiday Party - Save the Date!
Saturday, December 4th, 8 pm to 1 am at Carol's House
Join 350 of my "close personal friends for this annual holiday tradition, held at my home:  
3503 Cherry Forest Drive.  Tickets are $30, and are available
on-line and at the door.  
Open bar, a bounteous array of hot and cold appetizers, a chance to reconnect with old
friends and meet some new ones, along with the opportunity to support a great charity -
what's not to like????

This year's charity beneficiary is
Bering Omega Community Services, which provides
compassionate health care and social services to people living with HIV/AIDS.  I'm
delighted to report the return of our sponsors Red Bull, Silver Eagle/Bud Light, and Skyy
Vodka along with new sponsors Heritage Wines, Pioneer Wine Company and Jagermeister!

As many of you know, there are a couple of volunteer opportunities associated with this
event.  The decorating party is set for Saturday, November 20th at 11 am and the Slice and
Dice food prep event is Friday, December 3rd at 7 pm.  I'll tell you more about these as we
get closer to the event.

Stay tuned to this site for more details, and you can also visit our
Facebook Page.
     
   
   
     
     
     
     
     
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