Thursday

• Breakthrough indie rockers Suckers are back in Columbus in support of their debut album Wild Smile. Maza Blaska and Phantods will be opening the show, which goes down at 8PM at Circus. 18+. $10.
• Wild Goose Creative hosts Speak Easy, Columbus’ premier event for live storytelling, where an audience, a microphone, and great stories come together for some hilarious, gripping, and poignant moments. $5. BYOB.
• Tom Crumley and his piano musings will be serenading Club Diversity tonight starting at 9PM.

Friday

• Icebreakers featuring DJ Dawn is in at Club Diversity to spin some more tunes and get the party started. Rumor is she has about any song you could ask for in her collection. Starts at 9PM.
• Fetish Friday continues at eXile with “chains” as the star fixation.

Saturday

• Wild Goose Creative presents the second annual Bacon Camp Columbus, this year at the North Market. It is a celebration of all things bacon from food to art and craft to t-shirts and tote bags. This year will have food samples from Columbus chefs and local farms, a bacon photobooth, t-shirt printer, and more. Competitions will also take place. Tickets are $15 and limited. The event goes down from 2-5PM.
• Bobby Hamlin, man of a thousand voices, mixes it up and spends another night entertaining at Club Diversity. 9PM.
• DJ Fluffy is back at Tradewinds II on Saturdays playing “your favorite music and videos”.
• Trident has their monthly club night at eXile, tonight in celebration of Back to School.

Sunday

• First Sundays means free gallery admission at Ohio State University’s Wexner Center For The Arts from 11AM to 6PM.
• Sweatin’ Presents Labor Day Weekend Hollywood Holt (DJ Set) with Scotty Niemet, CJ Townsend, and Dave Espionage at Wall Street. 18+. Free before 11. Open until 3.

Thursday

• Chicago’s Califone visit the Wexner Center’s Performance Space to perform their live soundtrack for All My Friends Are Funeral Singers complete with the feature film made by singer Tim Rutili followed by a set of their other rock songs. Show starts at 8PM with tickets on sale at $14.
• New Jersey punk/indie rock band Titus Andronicus returns to Columbus yet again in support of their grand sophomore album The Monitor with The Compressions and Blastronauts opening. The show is at The Summit, 18+, and tickets are $14.
• Spit N Sketch Open Mic Night happens at Wild Goose Creative from 7-10 PM with live music, poetry, sketch, artistry, comedy, and dance. $5 cover charge, food and drink, and door prizes as well.

Friday

• Progressive rockers Coheed & Cambria headline an outdoor show at the LC Pavilion with Circa Survive and The Dear Hunter on as support. Tickets are $25 and doors are at 6:30PM.
• See You Thursday Improv is back for another round of spontaneous fun at Wild Goose Creative from 8-9:30PM. $5 at the door.
• Icebreakers featuring DJ Dawn at Club Diversity.
• Wall Street gives another chance for new & tenured DJs to take the stage and spin their tunes with Project DJ. This week’s party features DJs Viva! Valezz & The Velvet Hearts from 11-12:30 followed by resident DK Michele. Doors at 9PM. 18+.
• You would think every night was “bear night” at Exile, but tonight it’s the official title of the event. Bear Night goes down at 9PM.

Saturday

• It’s GLBT Night at the Columbus Zoo’s Zoombezi Bay from 5:30-11PM.
• Mary Ann Brandt’s Back to School Special starring Betty Cracker, Showeena DoMore, Flaggots Ohio, DeMonica Hunter, Dusti Hymen, Joe, Ashley O’Shea, and Tula Tubesucker runs for one more weekend at Wall Street with shows tonight and Sunday at 9PM.
• Bobby Hamlin performs at Club Diversity.

Sunday

• Get on your Karaoke with DJ Dawn at Club Diversity.

Friday

• Signature Wines‘ First Annual Sangria Festival will be held at Kelly Harvey’s winery from 6-9PM. The address of the winery is 3816 April Lane, Columbus, OH, 43227. Admission is $10 and includes a souvenir wine glass filled with their Signature House Sangria, live music by Dejavu Latin Fusion with solo artist Enrique Infante, 10 tickets redeemable for beverages, food from Junior’s Tacos, and gourmet cupcakes from Three Babes and a Baker, and the opportunity to win raffle prizes.
• Wall Street continues to celebrate the 2010 NAGAAA Softball World Series with the annual “Back to School” Camp Drag Show featuring Mary Ann Brandt. Show starts at 8PM. $10. 18+. Dancing after the show with no cover with NAGAAA Badge.
• Trafik hosts the Hardline World Series Party celebrating all the softball teams that made it here from 9:30PM-2:30AM.
• Aaron Lechlak will play a live acoustic show at Club Diversity. Show starts at 9:30PM.
• Starting at 9PM, Exile will have a Classic Leather/Levi Bar Night/Blackout Party with Hairplane performing live on stage and house dj/producer Herbie James throwing down the dance party.

Saturday

• The GSWS Legends Game featuring NAGAAA hall of fame members goes down at Berliner Park from 3-5PM.
• Jules Dassin’s 1959 film The Law will run as part of the A Summer Abroad: Cinema Italiano series at the Wexner Center’s Film/Video Theater at 7PM with tickets starting at $5 for members, seniors, and students and $7 for the general public. Also showing at 7PM on the previous night, Friday, August 20.
• Local fave Tracy Temple performs it all and returns to Club Diversity for a 9:30PM show.
• Synergy Media LTD is producing Temptation – Columbus at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion featuring DJ Alyson Calagna headlining the main event with DJ Josh Karmin opening. Show starts at 10PM.

Sunday

• Rock band The Black Crowes recently released their all acoustic album Croweology and embarked on their Say Good Night To The Bad Guys tour, which features an electric and acoustic set each night. The show comes to the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion outdoors for $30 in advance or $35 day of show. Gates open at 6PM. This will be the last chance to see the guys for awhile as they’re going on hiatus following this set of shows.
• Karaoke with DJ Calvin goes down at Club Diversity beginning at 7PM.

Bear Camp 2010

Friday

• After years of critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase, Akron, Ohio blues rockers The Black Keys have finally blown up to the mainstream with their latest full-length Brothers. They are playing a sold out show at the LC Pavilion outdoors with The Morning Benders starting at 7:30PM.
• See You Thursday improv returns to Wild Goose Creative for a show from 8-9:30PM. Tickets are $5 at the door.
• Wall Street hosts Fabulously Fluid with drag kings, gender benders, drag queens, and burlesque show. $5 cover. 18+. Doors at 8 with show at 9.
• The Gayla Smith Trio rocks out with familiar tunes that have her personal signature attached at 9:30PM at Club Diversity.

Saturday

• Indie rock band We Are Scientists hit up The Basement in support of their 2010 album Barbara with special guests Bad Veins opening.
• Art/Fix 2010: A Columbus Art & Music Scene Benefit for SOS of Ohio goes from 7-9PM, which will feature a silent auction of donated art pieces from local artists and a live music showcase of local indie rock bands.
• The bluesy, funky, and driven Debe’s Reunion with the Rhythm Method happens at 9:30PM at Club Diversity.

Sunday

• When I Grow Up: A Female Illusion Show starring Alli Katt goes down at Wall Street with plenty of special guests appearing. Doors at 8, show at 9. $5. 18+.
• Starting a 3PM, eXile will host a Bear Camp Farewell Cookout & World Series Welcome Party.
• Karaoke with DJ Dawn starts at 7PM at Club Diversity.

Have you been missing the Columbus weekend previews?? I’ve been missing you too! After a brief vacation, I’ve returned as energized as ever to help you add some extra off-the-beaten-path “new gay” entertainment and fun in central Ohio. Also note that Dana from Tradewinds contacted me and said he would be playing indie rock/dance, electro, and alternative music on Wednesday nights and he will gladly take requests. Sounds promising with the pretty severe lack of the indie and alt scenes being represented here. This Wednesday will be the first night trying this out, so please go out and support and give him compliments or recommendations on how to improve in the future! Free darts all night and drink specials should be happening. Now on to the weekend’s events featuring the

Friday

• Smashing Pumpkins, down to Billy Corgan as the only original member, will be rockin’ hits old and new at the Newport Music Hall as they support new 44-song music project, Teargarden By Kaleidyscope with Kill Hannah and Bad City.
• Rockers Cheap Trick are celebrating over 25 years together with reunited English new wavers Squeeze for a co-headlining show at the LC outdoor amphitheatre.
• The Gayla Smith Trio comes back to Club Diversity for a short visit away from the high seas. 9:30PM show.
• Comedy Revolver is going down at Wild Goose Creative at 8:30PM.

Saturday

• The Columbus Music Co-Op Parking Lot Blowout goes down at the Surly Girl Saloon parking lot at 2PM featuring the Gibson Bros., Scrawl, New Bomb Turks, EYE, Sweatheart, Fat Girls by the Snack Table, The Randy’s, and Old Hundred.
• Indie rockers Ted Leo & The Pharmacists tear it up at Skully’s for the official Columbus Music Co-Op Parking Lot Blowout Afterparty.
• Hot entertainer Tracy Temple performs at Club Diversity. 9:30PM show.
• DJ Fluffy returns to Tradewinds as “Columbus’ best DJ/VJ” playing your favorite music and videos.
• Weird Al Yankovic brings his unique brand of comedy songs and parodies to the LC outdoors.

Sunday

• Drag Show: Samantha Goes To The Movies at Wall Street.
• More Sunday Karaoke with DJ Calvin happens at Club Diversity.
• Wild Goose Creative hosts a Wine Education Class with Chris Dillman on Spain – Value and Diversity. $30 per person. 13 wines. Red, white, and sparkling. Register at http://spainvalueanddiversity.eventbrite.com/. 6PM-9PM.

Monday

• Spend an evening with alt-rockers CAKE and take in another nice Summer night outdoors at the LC.
• Indie blog darlings Small Black and Beach Fossils join for an $8 show at the Summit.

Friday

• First Friday at Wall Street will be celebrated with an official kickoff of Stonewall Pride 2010 edition. Doors at 8. 21+. $5.
• Punk rocker Hamell On Trial plays at the Rumba Cafe. Doors at 7:30. $9.99 for tickets.
• Chicago electronic indie rock duo Coltrane Motion headline a show at Cafe Bourbon Street. $5 tickets.
• See You Thursday, the the resident troupe of Pull The String Productions – a non-profit organization developed to promote the awareness, education and creative development of improvisational performance in Central Ohio – will perform at Wild Goose Creative starting at 8pm. Nothing is scripted out; everything that happens between the performers on stage is entirely spontaneous. The scenes are character-driven, and with the exception of a suggestion given at the top of the show, audience participation is non-existent (with the hopeful exception of laughter, of course). $5.
• DJ Calvin will be spinning at Club Diversity for First Fridays.
• Tradewinds II hosts Military Maneuvers II. Be prepared! Free dog tags to the first 150 people.
• Exile first Fridays are fetish nights with this week’s focused on “Electro Play”. Shocking! If only that meant Four Tet, Hercules And Love Affair, Robyn, and Neon Indian.

Saturday

• Bobby Hamlin, man of a thousand voices, will be entertaining at Club Diversity starting at 9:30pm.

Sunday

• Wall Street and James Blackmon present live entertainment with doors at 6, show at 7, and $4 admission.
• Karaoke with DJ Calvin at Club Diversity starting at 7pm.

Friday

• The Steel Dragnolias IGBOWL XXX Committee Show goes down at Wall Street starting at 10 PM.
• London’s One eskimO headlines a free show at Outland on Liberty with Ohio natives Dolson and Karate Coyote.
• Jenkins & Scott put their modern eclectic spin on the hits with live music starting at 9:30pm at Club Diversity.
• Simon Dowd presents his new one-man comedy show Brain Reflux at Wild Goose Creative. Brain Reflux will be a night of jokes, stories and songs with honest and frank observations on life. Special guests to open each show. BYOB, $10 at door. 8pm. Also on Saturday night at same time.

Saturday

• The Avett Brothers play the LC outdoor amphitheatre with Jessica Lea Mayfield. Doors at 7. Tickets are $27.50.
• Wall Street has a 23rd Anniversary Celebration featuring VJing from resident DJ Michele, special appearances, and more starting at 9pm. 18+.
• The Real Thing are doing a farewell show at Club Diversity before they split off to separate coasts. 9:30pm show.

Sunday

• Brew Blast featuring Bret Michaels - Roses and Thorns World Tour 2010 – comes to the LC outdoor amphitheatre. $30 for the pit. $15 for the lawn. Gates open at 6:30.
• Outlook Media and Sweatin’ present MOXY’s farewell set at Wall Street. 18+. $6 before 1AM. $8 after.
• Karaoke with DJ Dawn starts up at 7pm at Club Diversity.

Friday

• IGS Energy Evening with The B-52s presented by the City of Dublin opens their doors at the LC Pavilion starting at 6PM as a benefit concert for the Memorial Tournament N.I.C.U. at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Tickets start at $175 per person.
• Singer-songwriter Donna Mogavero plays at 9:30 PM at Club Diversity.
• Pontiak is joined by Arbouretum at Cafe Bourbon Street for a $7 show.
• Project DJ continues to give new and tenured DJs a change to take the stage and spin their tunes at Wall Street. This week DJ Christina Bash ‘em takes charge from 11-12:30 followed by resident DJ Michele. Doors at 9. 18+.
• Tradewinds II has their monthly CD Giveaway Night, which happens on the third Friday. Start your collection of their dance music.
• Exile hosts another Manhunt “Meat and Greet” Party starting at 9PM.

Saturday

• British folk rockers Mumford And Sons bring their sold out tour to the Wexner Center with The Middle East.
• Wild Goose Creative hosts the Eco Chic Craftacular today and Sunday.
• Musician Tracy Temple performs at Club Diversity starting at 9:30 PM.
• Exile presents their 1st Annual Exile Boy Contest.

Sunday

• Wall Street and James Club Entertainment Presents James Blackmon with Seth Gibson and guests with cocktails at 6 and performance at 7 at Wall Street Nightclub. $4.
• DJ Calvin hosts Karaoke at Club Diversity starting at 7PM.

Friday

• Man Man and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears headline the first night of the Nelsonville Music Festival. It’s $40 for the night or $60 for the whole weekend.
• Canadian indie rockers Plants & Animals hit up The Basement with Elliott Brood. Doors at  8PM. Tickets $10 now and $12 day of show.
• DJ Dawn gets everyone moving at Club Diversity starting at 9PM with Icebreakers.

Saturday

• Loretta Lynn and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings headline night two of the Nelsonville Music Festival. $40 for the day or $60 for the whole weekend.
• Wall Street hosts Hot Pink! – Burlesque Show & Pink Party, a benefit for Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Doors at 8PM. $10.
• Bobby Hamlin, man of a thousand voices, performs at 9:30PM at Club Diversity.

Sunday

• The Swell Season and Todd Snider headline the final day of the Nelsonville Music Festival. $40 for the day pass.
• Sunday Night Players: Pink Edition goes down at Wall Street with special guest host Mary Ann Brandt. Doors at 7PM with $7 cover. Proceeds benefit The Susan G. Komen foundation.
• The First Annual County Fair & Ho-Down goes down at 12PM at Exile. Games, prizes, vendors, and pig roast.

Friday

• One of my “old” favorite bands, Yeasayer, and a new favorite, Sleigh Bells, will be absolutely tearing up the dance floor tonight at the Grog Shop in Cleveland. Their latest albums, Yeasayer’s Odd Blood and Sleigh Bells’ Treats, are both excellent! Tickets are so sold out, but you need to get to this show, so if you don’t have them, bargain with people outside the door!
• The reinvented and reunited Sublime with Rome are playing at The LC for $28. Doors at 7.
• Wild Goose Creative will host a Silent Art Auction and fundraiser in their creative space in Clintonville on Friday, April 30th, 2010 from 6pm to 9pm. There will be food and other fun. $25 at door.
• Miss Molly Band, a sultry mix of alternative, folk, rock, and jazz, perform at Club Diversity at 9:30.
• It’s Cincinnati’s Scorpius Barnight at Tradewinds II.
• College Night will get you into Wall Street for no cover with valid college ID.

Saturday

• Exile hosts a Military Ball where military/uniform attire is requested and there will be contests for Best Uniform and.. Weapon Inspection… Hmmm.
• Night of Hope: Uganda Benefit starts at 7 at Wild Goose Creative. $5 cover.
• Stewart Bender will take on Club Diversity with Wendy Foster & Ross Shirley. Should be a fun variety show.

Sunday

• My Morning Jacket comes to Columbus for their only Ohio show with Preservation Hall Jazz Band at The LC outdoor amphitheater. $35. Doors at 6. That’s not “off the record”!
• Sonya Ross: The Age Of Drag Show featuring Darah Landon, Samantha Rollins, Vivi Velure, Ariel Michaels, and special guest Missy Marlow is presented at Wall Street. Doors @ 8. $5 admission.

Friday

• Past Lives play Cafe Bourbon Street. Tickets $5 in advance or $7 at door.
• The four-person See Spot Run improv group performs at Wild Goose Creative from 8-10PM. $5 admission.
• Project DJ goes down at Wall Street starring DJ Nick D from 11-12:30 followed by resident DJ Michele. This is a chance for new and tenured DJs to take the stage and spin their tunes. Doors @ 9. 18+.
• Icebreakers featuring DJ Dawn starts up at Club Diversity at 9PM.
• Tradewinds II hosts the CLGSA Season Kickoff Party.

Saturday

• Telemere plays in concert at Wild Goose Creative starting at 7PM with a night of eclectic American rock.
• Southern blues artist Bejae Fleming stars with bassist Jackie Blount at Club Diversity at 9:30PM.
• Exile holds a MANHUNT “Meat & Greet” Party if that’s something you might want to get yourself into. The closest I’ll get is saying “Sooo meatyyy” along with The Soup.

Sunday

• The Subjects make their way to The Summit with Inlets. $5 show.
• The Sunday Night Players bring sketch comedy, live vocals, and a touch of drama to Wall Street. Doors @ 7. Show @ 8. $7 admission. 18+.
• It’s Softball Sundays at Tradewinds II with a cookout at 4PM and margarita madness specials all day.
• Club Diversity throws a Karaoke party with DJ Calvin at 7PM.

Friday

• Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene and Wu-Tung rapper Ghostface Killah headline Ohio Wesleyan University’s SpringFest 2010 with mash-up artist Milkman opening. $20. Doors @ 6.
• Brooklyn indie rock band The Antlers come to The Basement bearing the beautiful and melancholy tracks from their “best of” 2009 album, Hospice, with electropop duo Phantogram. $12. Doors @ 8.
• The North American premiere of Miroku by KARAS comes to Ohio State University’s Mershon Auditorium with the show starting at 8pm.$10 for students. $26 for general public.
• Wall Street hosts Red Light Girlie Lounge with Viva Valezz & The Velvet Hearts with burlesque performances throughout the evening. Doors @ 11pm. $3 lounge admission.
• Bobby Hamlin, “the Man with a Thousand voices”, performs at Club Diversity at 9:30pm.

Saturday

• Kings Island theme park opens for the season. New for 2010 is Planet Snoopy, which replaced the park’s Nickelodeon Universe.
• Hip hop artist Brother Ali takes on the Horn Gallery at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH.
• Wild Goose Creative pulls in Pull the String Productions to teach scenic improvisational technique classes that focus on preparing the student for on-stage performance. 11am – 4pm. Later on, Heather Evans, Chris Junker, Wild Animals (AJ and Katie Babcock) and Anderson Cale (Anderson and Cale) play benefit concert to help raise money and awareness for the Price of Life Invitational, a unique, city-wide campaign to help address and put an end to human trafficking. The show starts at 8 and the cost is only $5.
• Trio Norwin Mergler with Lisa Imondi & Pat Landishis performs at Club Diversity with a great mix of older & newer sounds at 9:30pm.

Sunday

• Lo-fi pop band Best Coast play the Horn Gallery at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH.
• Post-rockers Red Sparowes, Caspian, and Fang Island rock out at the Grog Shop in Cleveland. $10. Show @ 9.
• Karaoke with DJ Dawn starts at 7pm at Club Diversity.

Friday

• The Wailers perform at The LC with The Flex Crew. $20.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats.
• Miss Columbus USofA At Large Pageant is at 8 and DJ Patrick Finn at 10p for CD Night at Axis.  Hot jocks in Pump at 11:30p.
• The Exile One Year Anniversary Bash begins at 9PM! Come celebrate!
• Moral Tales with DJ Detox from the producers of Sweatin’ at Havana at 10PM.
• Friday College Nights at Wall Street with free admission by showing valid college ID. Doors at 9. 18+.

Saturday

• CD101 Day at The LC featuring Crash Kings, Biffy Clyro, Flobots, Violent Soho, Dan Black & Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones. Tickets sold out!
• BEARvillities presents Kamp Kountry Jamboree hosted by Bobo Demontreal at Wall Street. $15. Doors @ 7. Show @ 7:30. 18+.
• Union hosts event with two Entertainer’s-of-the-Year in one! Former Nina West and current Bianca Nicole come out at 10PM.

Sunday

• Surfer Blood play The Summit with Turbo Fruits and Tin Armor. $8 advance/$10 day of show. 18+.
• Wall Street and James Blackmon present Jazz Mary & Seth Gibson. Doors @ 6. Show @ 7. $4 admission.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

• Henry Rollins hits up the LC Pavilion for his Frequent Flyer spoken word tour.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats
• City Center play a $5 show at Cafe Bourbon Street at 8PM.
• The cast of Kamp Kountry Jamboree does BEARvillities at Tradewinds II.
• It’s First Friday at Wall Street – the biggest night of each month – with no cover, $2 domestics from 8-9, and past and current dance classics spinning with DJ Michele.
• Exile hosts First Friday Fetist Night: Daddy/Boy/Dom/Sub theme.
• Axis has First Friday Frat Night with free admission with college ID. Hot jocks in Pump @ 10PM.

Saturday

• Clutch bring the rock at the Newport Music Hall with Danko Jones and Caverns.
• Trident Intl & Claw Present A Claw Nation Party at Exile.
• Black Out Party at Axis.

Sunday

• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM.
• Wall Street & Noka Davers presents the Sodom And Gomorrah Show with National Holiday, Sherry Dribblelipz, Cynthia D. Meanor, Ashley O’Shea, Viva Valezz, and Mice Davers as “The Voice of God”. Doors @ 8, show @ 9. $7.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

Tennessee this weekend, but Columbus will still be hopping with some supremely fun alt-queer times as well as some live music of your own including The Temper Trap, David Bazan with Headlights, Javelin, and The Dillinger Escape Plan.

Friday

• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats
• CD101 is hosting a $5 Low Dough show at the Newport Music Hall featuring The Temper Trap, who tingled our ears in 2009 with “Sweet Disposition”, which was featured on the (500) Days Of Summer soundtrack and their debut Conditions.

Saturday

• Halcyon comes to Wall Street with $10 admission and performance at 8. Dancing will follow.
• Fourth Saturdays at Axis – Wear the red tag if you are looking for Friends Only, the yellow tag is to Play It By Ear and the green tag is for Crazy Fun.
• New Jersey mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan will hit The Basement with Darkest Hour, iwrestledabearonce, Animals As Leaders.

Sunday

• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
• The Sunday Night Players sketch comedy group delivers the funnies, some live music, and a little drag at Wall Street with show at 8.
• Singer-songwriter David Bazan of Pedro The Lion and indie pop band Headlights will play The Basement.
• Buzz band Javelin will stir up a $5 show at The Summit.

Friday

• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats.
• Axis runs Shower Night with Alexis Stevens followed by DJ Rob Engel spinning for the dance floor starting at 10pm.
• It’s College Night at Wall Street with no cover with college ID and $3 long beach drink special. Doors open at 9PM. 18+.
• For 3rd Friday, Tradewinds II has CD Giveaway Night where you can collect TW’s hot dance music.

Saturday

• Wall Street hosts the Lounge Lizards And Ladies – Gender Bending Show sponsored by Captain Morgan. It’s an evening of crooning and mischief by U.S. and Canadian performers with doors at 8, show at 9, and $7 cover. The club will also have a Traffic Jam dance party for those 18+ at the same time with DJ Michele spinning. Glow sticks provided where green = available, yellow = open, and red = taken.
• Bebe Benet comes to Union at 10PM with Nina West.

Sunday

• The Big Pink bring tunes from their well-received 2009 debut A Brief History Of Love to Outland On Liberty for a $5 CD101 Low Dough Show.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
• Wall Street transforms the club into an intimate social gathering place for James Blackmon Presents with doors at 6 and performances starting at 7PM. Admission is $4. 18+.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.
• Axis hosts the Miss Capital City-at-Large Pageant.

Thursday

• Indie folk rock band Vetiver perform at Circus with Moon High and Vug & The Stallions. Tickets here.
• Wall Street Nightclub has Country Music & Line Dancing from 8-11PM with free two-step and line dance lessons followed by open country dancing. The club totally flips styles starting at 11 with R&B, Hip Hop, & Old School until close.
• Havana hosts Karaoke night at 10PM.

Friday

• Minneapolis indie pop band One For The Team play The Summit with Columbus locals This Is My Suitcase. Tickets here.
• Indie folk rock band Horse Feathers headline Rumba Cafe with Saintseneca and Old Hundred. Tickets here.
• Wall Street does Project DJ – an opportunity for DJ ‘newbies’ to take the stage and spin their tunes. This month’s DJ is Mex-A-Lot, who will be spinning from 11-12:30. Doors @ 9. 18+.
• Tradewinds II hosts I.G.B.O. St. Patty’s Party.
• Havana has Moral Tales with DJ Detox from the producers of Sweatin’ at 10pm.
• It’s Free CD Night at Axis with DJ Patrick Finn at 10PM and  Hot jocks in Pump at 11:30.

Saturday

• Scottish indie rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks headline The Summit with Lonely Forest and Bear Hands. Tickets here.
• New wave outfit Hockey rile up Outland On Liberty with Constellations. Tickets here.
• Singer-songwriter Jenny Owens Young comes to the Basement with Allison Weiss and Bess Rogers. Tickets here.
• If you love thrashing your body around into other guys, the Scion Rock Festival may oddly be your best bet of the weekend. The event comes to Columbus starring Cannibal Corpse, Voivoid, D.R.I., 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, Landmine Marathon, and more. Not for everyone, but metalheads are sure to find a lot to sink their teeth into.
• Suit up in your PJs for Axis‘ Green Pajama-rama Party.  Free Admission until 12am for guests in Green pajamas.  Nina West judges at 12:30am.  Categories are Most Creative, Most Sexy, and Most Scandalous.
• eXile presents Winter Heat Party at 9PM.

Sunday

• Kentucky rock band Cage The Elephant have been riding high on the success of their hot single “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” and will play the Newport Music Hall with New York indie rockers As Tall as Lions. Tickets available here.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
• eXile presents the 1st Quarterly Underwear Auction starting at 8:30PM.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.
• Wall Street hosts Alexis Stevens’ St. Patty’s Day Show Green With Envy.
• Green With Envy St. Patty’s Day Celebration spills over to Tradewinds II with showtime at 11PM.

The Out @ Wex festival at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Center is one of the most anticipated and exciting LGBT events in Columbus each year. The 2010 celebration includes a visit from filmmaker Su Friedrich, the annual Out @ Wex party, and the world premiere of Reid Farrington’s multimedia play Gin & “It”. It’s also the big Oscar weekend, Muscle Weekend in celebration of Arnold Sports Festival coming to town, and GYPSY is back for another run.

Thursday – Sunday

• Out @ Wex Event: New media artist, director, and designer Reid Farrington premieres Gin & “It”, a multimedia play inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, with performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8PM and Sunday at 2PM. Reid will also have a discussion about the development of Gin & “It” at 11AM on Saturday.
• Center Stage Players present GYPSY live on stage.  Show runs Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 4pm. Tickets available online at www.centerstageplayers.com or by telephone (866) 250-4832.

Thursday

• Out @ Wex Event: an Israeli-French-German co-production, Eyes Wide Open, set within Jerusalem’s extremely orthodox Jewish community. Show starts at 7PM.
• Celtic punks Flogging Molly play The LC with Frank Turner and The Architects. Tickets here.
• Indie rock band Margot And The Nuclear So & So’s come to Circus with Dolson. Tickets here.
• Wall Street Nightclub has Country Music & Line Dancing from 8-11PM with free two-step and line dance lessons followed by open country dancing. The club totally flips styles starting at 11 with R&B, Hip Hop, & Old School until close.
• Havana hosts Karaoke night at 10PM.
• Union is celebrating the Arnold Sports Festival in their own way with Special Muscle Weekend Long Island Kickoff Show with Nina West, Freesia Balls, Eva Stolichnya, Kari Kerning, and Barbie Roberts.

Friday

• Out @ Wex Event: Double feature – 1) Hide And Seek (1996) is a daring exploration of lesbian adolescence in the 1960s introduced by director Su Friedrich. 2) Seeing Red (2005) sees Friedrich responds to
  a profound professional crisis. Show starts at 7PM.
• Out @ Wex Event: From the Czech Republic, The Country Teacher, follows Petr, a quiet, studious gay man who impulsively leaves cosmopolitan, “tolerant” Prague, to take a job teaching science in a rural village where he knows no one. Film starts at 9:15PM.
• Out @ Wex Event: Mingle with other film and culture fans at the annual Out @ Wex party, with snacks and a cash bar, in the café area from 7-9:30PM.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats
• It’s First Friday at Wall Street – the biggest night of each month – with no cover, $2 domestics from 8-9, and past and current dance classics spinning with DJ Michele.
• Axis has First Friday Frat Night with free admission with college ID. Hot jocks in Pump @ 10PM.

Saturday

• Out @ Wex Event: Considered the first feature-length documentary on gay and lesbian identity, Word Is Out presents the lives and struggles of 26 diverse individuals. Film starts at 2PM.
• Out @ Wex Event: Winner of 10 audience and jury awards, Edie & Thea follows a lesbian couple who, after 42 years together, are about to be married. Film starts at 4:30PM.
• Out @ Wex Event: Directed by Lou Ye in China, Spring Fever focuses on a married man having a gay affair that his wife threatens to expose. Film starts at 7PM.
• Out @ Wex Event: Set in the South during hurricane season, the frenetic comedy Drool follows the two women played by Mulholland Drive‘s Laura Herring Girlfriends‘ Jill Marie Jones as they take to the road as a couple—along with two kids and a corpse—after the elimination of a particularly repulsive husband. Film starts at 9:15 PM.
• Singer-songwriter Howie Day plays The Basement with Serena Ryder. Tickets here.
• Muscle Classic Weekend is on at Axis with Nina West Hotspot and DK Alan Saunders. Sponsored by BigMuscle.com and BigMuscleBear.com.
• Trident International – Columbus Ohio & Exile present Fuck O’ The Irish. We know you have a kilt somewhere in your costume closet.

Sunday

• James Blackmon presents more of his top notch live entertainment productions and intimately transforms Wall Street for this week’s show featuring Norwin Mergler & Friends. Doors at 6PM. Entertainment at 7PM. Admission is $4 with Smirnoff cocktails for $3 and Smirnoff martinis for $5.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. They’re also having an Oscar Party with Showtunes that night for the big event.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

If you are like me and need an excuse to escape your bedroom because you’re insanely obsessed with the massive new Joanna Newsom album, Have One On Me, there are plenty of fun things to distract you for a hot minute or two this weekend. The main event may quite possibly be Ani DiFranco‘s headlining show at the LC featuring Erin McKeown, but there will be presentations of GYPSY from the Center Stage Players happening all weekend and events supporting the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association as well.

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

• Center Stage Players present GYPSY live on stage. Show runs Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 4pm. Tickets available online at www.centerstageplayers.com or by telephone (866) 250-4832.

Friday

• The fabtacular singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco headlines the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion with Erin McKeown attached to support. Grab tickets right here.
• Viva Valezz & The Velvet Hearts give Wall Street another dimension with The Red Light Girlie Show Lounge. Doors open at 11PM with performances through the evening. $3 lounge admission provides cocktail waitress and in/out privileges.
• It’s CSLGA Sport Uniform Night at Tradewinds II.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats

St. Vincent, looking a lot like Kate Bush, performs Saturday.

The St. Vincent fanboy in me has almost blacked out everything else going on this weekend with my anticipation focused squarely on her show this Saturday at Outland On Liberty, but there are a lot of fun local events happening including the Fiery Foods Festival at North Market and Ohio’s own Lovedrug playing Skully’s on Friday night plus a plethora of LGBT parties and events including a show from drag king troupe The Royal Renegades at Wall Street, Tony Shaw’s 6th Annual Hearts Party at EXILE, a fundraiser for Ohio Mayhem Hockey at Score Bar, and a Special Wine & Cheese Party at Club Diversity.
Friday, February 19th

• Indie rock band Lovedrug from Canton, Ohio will top the bill at Skully’s with openers Clemens, Old Worlds, and The Ballroom. Find tickets here.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats
• AXIS hosts Stream Shower Night with Virginia West followed by DJ Rob Engel spinning for the dancefloor at 10PM.
• For 3rd Friday, Tradewinds II has CD Giveaway Night where you can collect TW’s hot dance music.

Saturday, February 20th

• Supremely talented multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter St. Vincent will be simultaneously sweetly serenading us with her voice and blowing our minds with her musicianship in support of her 2009 sophomore album, Actor, when she headlines Outland On Liberty with experimental pop band Wildbirds & Peacedrums on as support. Tickets available here.
• The North Market hosts the Fiery Foods Festival all day long with tropical entertainment and tongue-tingling foods.
• The LGBT Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team holds fundraiser at Score Bar where proceeds from Jello shots and a portion of the bar tips will go to help the team with league fees and equipment purchases. A 50/50 raffle will be part of the fun with drawing held at midnight. 10PM-2AM.
• Columbus’ premiere drag king troupe, The Royal Renegades, presents There’s No Business Like Show Business starting at 9PM at Wall Street. Hosted by Alexis Stevens. $7 cover. 21+. Wall Street will also have a Traffic Jam dance party for those 18+ at the same time with DJ Michele spinning. Glow sticks provided where green = available, yellow = open, and red = taken.
• Starting at 10PM, EXILE presents Tony Shaw’s 6th Annual Hearts Party where leather, red, lace, and black attire are encouraged. No cover. DJ Venus spinning.
• Get on your best sun dance attire for the Spring Break Cabana Party with Nina West at Union.

Sunday, February 21th

• The annual Miss Gay Heart of Ohio America Pageant hits Wall Street. This year’s theme is “Scarlet Hearts – Love from the South”. Performances by MGHoOA 2009 Delta Blake & MGOA 2009 Symphony Alexander-Love. Doors at 8PM. 18+. $5 cover.
• Club Diversity will have a Special Wine & Cheese Party hosted by Rick. Signature Wines will be there from 3-6pm. Join Kelly Harvey, owner and winemaker of Signature Wines, for an opportunity to sample six of Kelly’s exquisite wines. Only $20 per person, tickets are on sale at the bar. This includes the wine tastings, cheeses paired to match flavors, and a hot & cold food buffet.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Then they go to the dogs for their 101 Dalmations Showtunes night.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

Concerts, concerts, and more concerts is this weekend’s theme in Columbus, Ohio even more than the Valentine’s Day parties, but there’s still plenty of sweet and dirty love to go around there. Langhorne Slim, George Clinton, Dr. Dog, Leslie and the Ly’s, Dark Star Orchestra, Dirty Penny, Blowfly, and more will be in town vying for your heart and attention. Also noteworthy, Godspell will be playing at Club Diversity all weekend. Celebrate this weekend with the ones you love and the ones you love to get down with. That’s all that matters.

Thursday

• Santa Cruz glam-rockers Dirty Penny will tear it up Slapsy Maxies at 10PM. $5 cover. 21+.

• Comedic rapper and songwriter Blowfly gets dirty at The Summit. $10 at the door. 18+.

• Wall Street Nightclub has Country Music & Line Dancing from 8-11PM with free two-step and line dance lessons followed by open country dancing. The club totally flips styles starting at 11 with R&B, Hip Hop, & Old School until close.

• Nina West hosts the ‘Single & Bitter’ party at Union starting at 10PM.

• Stop by Havana for karaoke night starting at 10PM.

Friday

• Philly indie rock band Dr. Dog return to Columbus at the Newport Music Hall with The Growlers. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 day of show.

• All weekend Virginia West presents her Valentine’s Day Show at AXIS. Free CD night on Friday with DJ Patrick Finn at 10.

• Wall Street does Project DJ – an opportunity for DJ ‘newbies’ to take the stage and spin their tunes. This month’s D is Yimi, who will be spinning from 11-12:30. Doors @ 9. 18+.

• Havana presents Moral Tales with DJ Detox from the producers of Sweatin’ starts at 10PM.

• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats

Saturday

• Get your groove on with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. Tickets are $29 in advance and $32 day of show.

• Grateful Dead cover band Dark Star Orchestra stars at the Newport Music Hall. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 day of show.

• Singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim headlines show with April Smith and The Great Picture Show at The Summit. Tickets $8 in advance and $10 at the door. 18+.

• RED Party at Wall Street with Ani Difranco concert VIP Box Suite giveaway, erotic shadow dancers, reduced cover if you wear red, and Bacardi Dragon Berry drink specials. Doors @ 9. 18+.

• The First Annual Valentine’s Day Post Office Party begins at 10PM at Exile.

Sunday

• Iowa pop band Leslie and the Ly’s hits Columbus with Christopher the Conquered at The Summit. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. 18+.

• James Blackmon Presents Valentine’s event from 6-10 at Wall Street. Village People after-concert party from 11-close.

• Tradewinds II brings Bloody Valentine – Maria’s Valentine’s Day Show with Akasha Ohara and special guests starts at 11PM.

• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM. Plus Valentine’s Day Dinner with a special menu from Chef Ben.

This weekend is fully loaded with fun things to do like the free Asobi Seksu acoustic show at Kenyon College and Mardi Gras celebrations plus many ways to help support the local LGBT community including the Equality Happy Hour event at Union and the Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team Fundraiser at Score Bar. Besides all these great activities competing for your attention though, Ohio is up against a Winter Storm Warning with a heavy snow flow forecast ahead as well. If you can’t find your way out, Zombieland made its DVD/BD debut, so that’s good for an hour and a half of some of the finest entertainment 2009 film had to offer.

Friday

• On The Floor Productions and Done Waiting present the DoneWaiting.com 7-year anniversary party at Skully’s headlined by Columbus native electronic artist and producer RJD2 with support from Happy Chichester, Kenan Bell, Thought Collective, and DJ Detox. Tickets will be $15 at the door.

• New York dream pop band Asobi Seksu will play a free acoustic show at The Horn College at Kenyon College in Gambier in support of their 2009 full-length studio album, Hush, and acoustic album, Rewolf.

• The Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team holds fundraiser at Score Bar where proceeds from Jello shots and a portion of the bar tips will go to help the team with league fees and equipment purchases. A 50/50 raffle will be part of the fun with drawing held at midnight. 9PM-2AM.

• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour – A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats.

• As part of their Mardi Gras festivities, Tradewinds II has their $1.98 Beauty Contest to elect the Mardi Gras Queen in the talent, evening gown, and covered dish categories.

• It’s First Friday at Wall Street – the biggest night of each month – with no cover, $2 domestics from 8-9, and past and current dance classics spinning with DJ Michele.

• Axis has First Friday Frat Night with free admission with college ID. Hot jocks in Pump @ 10PM.

• Strap up for this week’s Exile “Fetish Friday” event with “Bondage” being the core theme for the most daring of the First Friday celebrations in Columbus this weekend.  Rawr is right.

Saturday

• Deanna Sweeney with Kevin Patric, Gretchen Schuster and Brian Coon play Club Diversity at 9:30 PM.

• Axis does double duty events with their Mardi Gras Party and Miss Gay Ohio USofA All-Star Show.

• Exile saves face with the Exile & Trident International Mardi Gras Mask Night from 9PM to 2:30AM. And it’s the first Saturday of the month, so you can bet your ass their “Best Ass Contest” will be underway as well. No additional mask required.

Sunday

• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM.

• Wall Street and James Club Entertainment partners for another James Blackmon Presents! production featuring James Blackmon, Jazz Mary, and Dane Terry. Cocktails begin at 6. Performances at 7. $4 admission with $3 Absolut cocktail special.

• Miss Ohio USofA starts at 7PM at Axis with the reigning Paige Passion.

• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

I knew I should have saved my “Oh my!” for Columbus this weekend since Oz With Orchestra will be gracing our eyes and ears at the Ohio Theatre on Saturday, but then we’d just be jumping into typical territory.If that’s not your thing, there are more ball happenings than you can shake a stick at. We’ve got a Civil War-themed ball, a pool (ball) tournament, a bowling (ball) league, country line (ball) dancing,… Ok, that’s a bit of a stretch. Just get out in the city this weekend and make it happen!

Tonight

• Wall Street Nightclub hosts Country Music & Line Dancing from 8-11pm with free two-step and line dance lessons followed by open country dancing. The club totally flips styles starting at 11 withR&B, Hip Hop, & Old School until close. No cover with valid college ID. 18+.

• Rack up your balls and try your hand at eXile‘s in-house pool tournament taking place every Thursday at 10pm. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Friday

• Havana rolls out, well, obviously the most fabulous carpet they’ve got for their Miss Havana amateur drag pageant – with Nina West.

Saturday

• Club Diversity/Drawing Room Theatre hold auditions for The Musical Of Musicals – The Musical! from 12pm-3pm.

• The Blackout Party presented by Stawn and Co. returns to AXIS.

• Oz With Orchestra comes to The Ohio Theatre where you can relive the classic Wizard Of Oz film with the music delivered by a live orchestra. Show starts at 7:30pm with tickets ranging from $18 to $64.

• Break out your Civil War-drobe for The Ohio State House‘s annual Grande Winter Ball from 7:30-9pm. Admission is free but reservations are required.

Sunday

• Wall Street Nightclub presents the annual “Best Of” show from Sunday Night Players comedy group with sketches, live music, and a little bit of drag! Doors @ 7. Show @ 8. 18+. $7 admission.

Monday

• Ten Pin Alley & Spikes begin their LGBT winter bowling league that will last for eight weeks. It is non-sanctioned and for LGBT only.

With temperatures forecast to hit the upper 40s this weekend, it’s hard to know what to blame the semi-”heatwave” on… Late Night wars? Tempers flaring over the Massachusetts election results? Hipster heads exploding from Vampire Weekend and Joanna Newsom shows coming to Columbus on the same night?… But it’s certainly welcome. It’s a good time to get out in the city and experience the variety (Bears! Mardi Gras! Halfway To Pride! Oh my!) of special events and entertainment we have to offer.

Friday

• Union continues their happy hour FUN-draiser for Equality Ohio from 4PM-7PM with Premium $4 martinis and complimentary hors d’ouvres. $1 from every martini purchase goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, the 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats.

• Tradewinds celebrates Mardi Gras 2010 with a new event each Friday. This week’s festivities calls for CLGSA Mask Night with a $50 prize for best mask and a note – Don’t Forget To Collect Your Beads.

Saturday

• Wall Street Nightclub is celebrating with their “Halfway To Pride Party” with free giveaways, $2.50 Miller Lite Special, and Rainbow attire = reduced cover with VJ Michele. Doors @ 9.

• Nina West hosts Winter Luau at Union.

• eXile Columbus presents their 1st Annual EXILE BEAR Contest starting at 11:30 PM. “Now Taking Applications.” $100 cash prize to winner.

• For Fourth Saturdays, Axis holds their Dog Tag Party – Red tag for “Friends Only”, Yellow for “Play It By Ear”, and Green for “Crazy Fun”.

Sunday

• Wall Street Nightclub and James Club Entertainment come together for James Blackmon Presents!  live entertainment production of jazz, pop, soul, and showtunes featuring Andy Hobson & James Blackmon, Seth Gibson, Tamra Ellis, Mary McClendon, and Cheridy Keller. $4 admission. Cocktails begin @ 6. Performances starts @ 7.