Thu 26 Mar 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A glamorous bingo night featuring outrageous Auckland drag queens at the beautiful Hopetoun Alpha building has had to be postponed to avoid a noisy concert located directly outside the venue on the original date. "It is with great disappointment that we must inform you that Black Tie Drag Bingo has been postponed until Friday, 12 June 2009," say the organisers. "The change of date is due to Auckland City Council's involvement in a street concert in Beresford Square as part of the Summer Sounds Concerts series on 3 April 2009 – the original date for Black Tie Drag Bingo. The concert is targeted at the under-18 demographic and will feature live music on a flat deck truck directly outside Hopetoun Alpha from 8pm to 11pm – essentially during the hours of Black Tie Drag Bingo. "Our venue Hopetoun Alpha was unaware of the concert and therefore did not advise us of it at the time of booking." "We wish to offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience, our appreciation to all those who have offered to help, and the opportunity to contact us if you have queries. Please email Cherry at csonderer@xtra.co.nz if you will be able to attend Black Tie Bingo on Friday 12 June 2009 – everyone who has booked already will be contacted directly." Hosted by Beaver Brown and Miss Onya Nees, entertainment guests for Black Tie Drag Bingo will be Tess Tickle, Buckwheat and Felicia. The night will run with the assistance of volunteers from Rainbow Youth, and is a major fundraiser for The Cartier Bereavement Trust, a charity which funds funerals for NZers who die of HIV-related illness. The event's organisers say well over 150 seats have been sold to the event, but many more seats are still available for its postponement date in June. Tickets are $75, which includes four games of bingo, supper and shows. Hopetoun Alpha's management is now providing the venue free on the new date. "It's shaping up to be a night to remember," say the bingo crew.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 26th March 2009 - 8:39am