The garden city is about to turn into the gay city, as Christchurch launches into its annual pride week. Christchurch Pride will be opened on Monday at Cultured Gallery, with the opening of Queer Takes, the second annual Christchurch Pride week art exhibition. The week boasts a bevy of events, from a function on Tuesday where Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker will speak, to morning tea, bingo, bears night and dance parties. Ladies are asked to dress as their favourite star for the Star Show women's night on Friday, which will feature drag kings and the acrobatics of the Twistee Twins. The city's celebrity bear chef Carlos Garcia will be a guest at the Q-Topia Queer Fair on Saturday, while things will heat up later that night with the Get it On! Fantasy Ball,which has the theme Once Upon a Time. The week will culminate with the AIDS Candlelight Memorial, in The Great Hall of the Arts Centre on Sunday. The programme can be downloaded here A full guide to the events is below: Monday 10 May PolyQ Lunch CPSA Cafe, Madras St. CPIT's Queers on campus. 12 Noon cpit.polyq@hotmail.com Christchurch Pride Week Opening Night: Queer Takes Art Exhibition. Cultured Gallery, cnr Fitzgerald Ave and Kilmore St 5:30pm Featuring: Ttonn, Grace Dykstra, Warren Robertson, Phillip Hughes, Michael Corcoran, Andy Leleisi'uao, Anne Nicholson, Yi Ming Lin, Clarence Carmagnloe, Maree McGovin and Grant Lingard RSVP: hamish.milne@nzaf.org.nz 03 3791953 Free Confidential Sexual Health checks Menfriends, 83 Lichfield St 7:30-9:30pm Tuesday 11 May GBA presents 'BIZWITS' Elevate Function Centre, 2 Colombo St Cashmere 5:30pm Guest speaker Christchurch Mayor, Hon. Bob Parker, Community board members. $5 members, $10 non-members Food and drink deal: $20 pp includes choice from 9 menu items and wine, beer or juice. RSVP: Suzy Lawson 021 207 6605 suzlaw@xtra.co.nz Wednesday 12 May Step Ahead Rainbow Group Morning Tea 167 Stanmore Rd 10:30-11:30am A social support group for GLBT and gay friendly people who experience mental illness, 18-65 RSVP: 389 4001 info@stepahead.org.nz UniQ Lunch Stead Meeting Room, upstairs, University of Canterbury Students' Association, 90 Ilam Rd. 11am-2pm uniq_canterbury@hotmail.com Q-Topia Gay Bingo! Cafe on the Park-Hagley Community College 7pm $5 per book of 10 games. BYO Brief Encounters" Menfriends, 83 Lichfield St 7pm-close Underwear only, all 3 floors Thursday 13 May Q-Topia open night White Elephant HQ, LEVEL 1, 1 Bedford Row 7pm Join Q-Topia, Christchurch's queer youth social network. RSVP: 021 175 3631 q_topia@hotmail.com Queer Bytes Manee Thai Restaurant, 241 Manchester St 7pm For interested and/or involved in gay liberation. RSVP: Robin Duff: 379 9493 robinduff@gmail.com Underwear or Lingerie Menfriends, 83 Lichfield St All 3 floors. Your underwear or ours-very popular! Friday 14 May Women's Star Show party Iconic, upstairs, cnr Manchester and Gloucester St 8pm $12 waged, $10 unwaged featuring drag kings, the Twistee Twinz and pumping DJ sounds. Come dressed as your fav star. $5 house drinks 8-10pm Bears Christchurch presents ManZone 2: Rough Trade Military/leather/uniforms etc. $10 entry bears.christchurch@gmail.com Saturday May 15 Q-Topia Queer Fair CPSA, CPIT campus, Madras St, opp Countdown 11am-2pm A GLBT celebration for all the family, showcasing local community groups, food stalls, white elephant etc. Celebrity cooking demo by Carlos Garcia (Chch Master Chef NZ contestant). Nude Only Menfriends, 83 Lichfield St 9am – 6pm NUDE ONLY – All 3 Floors – Totally Nude, No exceptions. Get it On! Fantasy Ball: Once Upon a Time The Bedford, cnr Madras St and Bedford Row. DJ Phil, Miss Mole, Miss Gloriousole, Little Miss Cinnamon, Miss Cindy. Adult fairy tale party extravaganza Tickets $20 from the Bedford, NZAF, 269 Hereford St. Sleaze Party Menfriends, 83 Lichfield St Midnight Underwear, nude or fetish dress code Sunday 16 May Lambda Lattes Pride Week Walk Taylors Mistake via Whitewash head. Meet 9:55am at Sumner beach Clock tower Contact Ross: 366 0962 Brunch at Sophies 8 Papanui Rd Wear your PJs or come in Drag for 1/2 price brunch! bookings: 355 2133 COOL (Collective of Older Lesbians-35 plus) Avon Loop Cottage, Hurley Street, 12 noon. Bring your own lunch - tea and coffee provided. Contact Helen and Noreen: 332 5223 AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL 2010 The Great Hall, Arts Centre Many Lights for Human Rights Kitten Power - 8th May 2010