Sasha Scarlett’s Pride Guide

Calling all guys and gals who love feathers, rhinestones and all that is gay! Another year, another Gay Pride Festival! OK, OK, if you love leather and lace or bears or muscle boys—you’re welcome, too. I can hardly wait. This is the time when fags and dykes from around the world join together in a celebration of all things under the Rainbow.

For those who need to know wassup! this exciting weekend, I called all my darling friends to get the scoop. First, let me explain that Reno has seven gay bars, and, come Pride weekend, all will be packed. They all are fun, depending on your proclivities—so whether you are woman, man or something in-between, put on your Sunday best and hit the streets this weekend!

• Carl’s Pub, 3310 S. Virginia St.: Reno’s oldest Leather and Bear Bar celebrates all weekend long. Be sure to check out their Midnight Madness Contest, where winners will be selected in categories like “Best Chest” and “Best Basket,” and trust me when I say these baskets have nothing to do with Easter!

• 5-Star Saloon, 132 West St.: Reno’s bar for leather men and hot trade celebrates this weekend with some of the city’s finest bartenders and its intimate, masculine atmosphere. Stop by and check out the hot men who always frequent this watering hole.

• The Patio, 600 W. 5th St.: This bar features a relaxed, kick-back atmosphere and is one of the hottest lesbian watering holes in the city. The Patio has a huge Tuesday night karaoke show and, in celebration of Pride, will bring in karaoke for the weekend.

• The Quest, 210 W. Commercial Row: This bar features my incredible show on Saturday night, 11 p.m., so check out our incredible Gay Prideapalooza Show with hot male dancers, as well as mucho caliente Latin dancers, drag queens, singers and tons of free prizes!

• The 1099, 1099 S. Virginia St.: The home bar of the Imperial Court, the 1099 will feature a fabulous float in the Gay Pride Parade. Owner Jackie Best promised cute boy DJs mixed with some of those delightful Court drag queens and kings. This is the only bar with plans for Sunday—so stop by and enjoy the free barbecue, featuring delicious pulled pork. Sounds absolutely fabulous!

• Tronix, 303 Kietzke Lane: I love Michael and the boys of Tronix, Reno’s video bar and undisputed No. 1 bar for hot, hot men. This bar has more video screens than Times Square and features VJ Manny on Friday. Celebrate with BOTH VJ Manny (10 p.m. till midnight) followed by DJ Fierce on Saturday (midnight till 4 a.m.!).

• Club Naca: 340 Kietzke Lane: Reno’s newest gay bar has the city’s only official Melissa Etheridge Concert Kick-Off Party on Friday night (at midnight). The event will feature a concert ticket giveaway and a plethora of all things Melissa to be given away. Prior to the Melissa party, enjoy free country music with DJ Robin (8 to 11 p.m.). On Saturday, the hilarious Chrisanne Eastwood performs, followed by DJ Sonja.

• Melissa Etheridge Concert: Not just for lesbians, Etheridge has wide popular appeal and is guaranteed to sell out. For a helpful hint from your Queen (that’s me) go to www.melissaetheridge.com and join MEIN (Melissa Etheridge Information Network) and buy your tickets online. This way you get special priority seating (does front row center sound priority enough?) and at discounted prices.

• A Rainbow Place (Northern Nevada Gay and Lesbian Center), 33 St. Lawrence Ave.: A Rainbow Place will have a youth float in the Pride Parade. There is also a youth barbecue and dance on Saturday night to give the young-uns an opportunity to share in Pride festivities without drugs, alcohol or old trolls to hassle them.

• That’s wassup! Now get out there and have a good time. And, remember, if you’re going to play—play safe.

Sasha Scarlett is an Emmy-award nominated drag queen performer. Sasha received awards for outstanding community service in Las Vegas, has appeared on HBO, Showtime and The Discovery Channel, is the father of three amazingly well-adjusted children and a contributing writer to the RN&R and other area publications.