There's a wide variety of events happening in the City of Sails on the most romantic day of the year as Auckland's Pride Festival continues. Valentine's Day this Saturday features several lesbian-themed happenings, a carnival near K' Road, some drag aerobics and the return of a popular gay dance party. Ponsonby's camp café Dorothy's Sister offers A Lover's Breakfast from 8am until 1pm. Tickets start from $15, with proceeds donated to Positive Women. Bookings are essential, by phoning 09 378 8953. A 24-hour party at Epolito's Pizzeria will celebrate girl-love, with all profits going towards Positive Women. The event begins at 8am with A Lovers Breakfast running until midday. From 2 until 6pm there will be live music/Drag/Comedy/Barber Shop and more by LGBT artists. The main event will be a Epolito's Pizzeria Specialty - a 'White Party' New York style from 9pm. Special guest artists confirmed include Bumpa Love, Madam Elegance, Jak Twisted and Karen Hunter. Shows will start at 11pm, at 1 Rawhiti Road, One Tree Hill. From its early lesbian theatre collection, The Charlotte Museum will present the original Robert Steele Film of Freda Stark dancing in 1940, followed by a DVD of Amanda Rees talking about her performance of Stark. It starts at 2pm at 6/58 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn. The girls at lesbian-owned Westmere café Garnet Station will host 'a party for lesbians thrown by thespians' starting at 7pm. The $25 entry fee includes a cocktail on arrival and a light supper. Tickets for the Sappho Express party are now available from the café, located at 85 Garnet Road, Westmere. Drag King and Drag Queen talent will be showcased at the monthly Kings bring punters a night of dirty house and light electro when the Phoenix dance party returns to the Galatos Basement on Galatos Street behind K' Road. Tickets are $15, available online at www.salvationparty.co.nz. Also note-worthy and gay-frendly, but outside the Pride '09 Festival, is the annual Cross Street Carnival, also behind K' Road, featuring live entertainment, unique activities, food and community stalls and art installations. The free day of events begins at 2pm on Cross Street, and finishes after 7pm. What will you be doing on Valentine's Day? Let us know via our Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 11th February 2009 - 4:45pm