The Wanzegram - June 2, 2010

The Biggest GLBT Vacation Event is Upon Us!

I'm so excited. And I am so going to party.

You may visit: www.GayDays.com for lots of great information concerning events sanctioned by and/or advertised on the Gay Days® Inc. website. There you'll find hours for the Gay Days® Expo at the Host Hotel, and the locations and directions to the various host and co-host hotels. It's an excellent resource for events working in concert with, or produced by, GayDays.com.

But net surfer beware! - NOT ALL GAY DAY EVENTS AND PARTIES WILL BE FOUND on GayDays.com (Nor in the Magazine-sized "Official" Gay Days® guide published by Gay Days® Inc.) The company has a policy of listing only those events from which Gay Days® Inc. profits, either by direct involvement, or as the sellers of advertising. There's nothing illegal about the stance taken by the company - it just means their information is somewhat selective and incomplete. Make no mistake; the Gay Days® Inc.-produced GAY DAYS® EXPO and their pool parties are always a blast, but the information they impart is, by design, not a complete overview of the weekend ahead. It's really easy, though, to log on to their web site and get the 411 on everything they are promoting, including Expo hours, and a list of its vendor/presenters.

GayDays.com has suspended online ticket sales (as is usual and practical) at this point in time. Tickets which they vend will only be available for advance purchase by visiting the GayDays.com ticketing center located at the Gay Days® Host Hotel - The Double Tree (formerly known as Sheraton World) located on International Drive and Westwood Boulevard (at the 528 overpass) near Sea World. Operating times are available on their website.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of the current WATERMARK now on newsstands and gay bar literature racks everywhere. Within the regular paper you will find a handy dandy pocket novel-sized GD Guide. This slick pull-out Guide is as comprehensive as any I've ever seen, and includes every known Gay Day-related event, whether or not Watermark profits from them.

Also included throughout the Watermark-produced GD Guide (they can't call it a Gay Days® Guide because Gay Days® Inc. has registered those words as a trademark) are Gay Day memories garnered from local folks from every walk of gay life. Included among those featured are PH owner Don Granatstein, and yours truly. There's also a great article about the American Idol Stars appearing at the Parliament House in the Watermark GD publication written by Subscriber friend John Sullivan.

What's Happening Magazine has gotten into the Spirit of Gay Days® by themeing the June issue to be all about Heroes - which is the theme of this year's overall Gay Days® event. Be sure to check out the What's Happening-produced MERI-COM exhibition/vendor event for comic books and collectables (advertised above in this gram) being presented at the Gay Days host hotel Friday and Saturday June 4 & 5.

Within the pages of the PH-published NOW Magazine, you'll find a really great GD-related interview with DEBORAH GIBSON, who is but one of four recording artists who is appearing at the PH this weekend. Along with each nightly concert at the PH on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there's also a completely newly-enhanced light and sound show in the courtyard, Adult film stars, female impersonation shows, beach-side foam parties, vendors, and party-goers from around the world, for what are always the biggest parties of the year at the world's most famous gay resort.

And remember - if you miss the old Thursday night event at the now defunct Mannequins at Pleasure Island, you can meet up with that crowd - and even some of the Mannequins employees - at the 2nd annual PI at PH event on Thursday. It was one of the best parties on the schedule last year, completely overwhelming the PH, and taking everyone by happy surprise. Also remember, if you are going to the PH, you can start off your evening early with the 8 PM film presentations advertised above in this Gram. The 8 PM screenings are FREE on Friday and Saturday nights.

For a complete schedule of PH Events simply log onto their website: www.ParliamentHouse.com

On Wednesday - THAT'S TODAY - Miss Sammy and I will be giving away a $40 pair of tickets to the Friday Night Gay Day Party and Concert at the Parliament House featuring all those adult film stars and the fabulous Deborah Gibson live in concert. This early evening edition of Beach Blanket Bingo is sure to be attended by more than the "regulars" and will prove a perfect way to jump start your Gay Day related activities. The drawing for the FREE ROOM NIGHT will occur at 7:45PM so that you my be present to win and still have plenty of time to get situated in the Footlight Theatre for the 8PM Comedy Queen show.

Of course don't forget the event that started it all - Gay Day in the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. I'm actually going this year after several years absence - specifically to meet up with Subscriber friends in front of Cinderella Castle for the pre-parade street party/meet and greet, and then the 3 PM parade. Immediately afterwards, I'm meeting up with friends for a "fu fu cocktail" at the Polynesian Resort, should anyone care to join in.

Finally - it's newsworthy to note the originators of the very first private Gay Day-related, park-buy-out parties - Watermark Media - who first produced Beach Ball at Typhoon Lagoon, but later sold the rights to another party promoter - have again returned to that idea - producing Saturday night's Stratosphere party at Universal Orlando, being presented in cooperation with circuit party legend Mark Baker. The nice thing is, even though Watermark is producing this event, they still feature every known event in their GD guide happening that same night, including all the events which occur opposite their own. That's called playing nice in the community sandbox, and I applaud them for it.

For your added convenience you may view Watermark's GD Event Guide online simply by clicking on the following link: Click Here

When you link to the GD online guide the Watermark site rightfully proclaims "Welcome to the online version of the only comprehensive Gay Days Weekend schedule of events". And I dare say that is, happily, a very true statement.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This is not being advertised in any of the magazines or on any of the Gay Day, GD, Gay Days, NOW, or WHAT'S HAPPENING MAGAZINE publications or their websites. It's our little secret:

YOU ARE PERSONALLY INVITED BY ME - and my bartender/server friends at the Parliament House - to join us for an unadvertised, very special industry and friends AFTER THE AFTER PARTY - PARTY, beginning at 7:30 AM in the Pool Bar & Disco at the PH on Monday morning, June 7th. I'll be there, along with many of your friends, and intend to stay the day. We've cooked up some great surprises, including dark-during-the-day places to chill, as well as places to dance, swim, eat, and drink. $2.50 well drinks, and $1 grilled- to-order eats. This is meant to be a by-invitation event for PH employees to invite their industry colleagues, and their personal friends to come party with us.

Can I help it if my personal invitation list includes two thousand-plus subscribers?

Hope to see your there bright and early, and totally unrested on Monday morning.

Happy Gay Days!

I'm WANZIE and That's All I Wrote!