Toys 4 Tots raises $14,000
A huge mountain of toys formed at Money Pennies last month for Dr. Richard Denney’s 12th Annual Toys for Tots Christmas toy drive to benefit less fortunate children. Fred Udey and a Country Furniture driver donated their time and resources the morning after the event to haul the toys to their destination. Dr. Denney estimates that the event accumulated a total value of $14,000 in toys and donations.
Living Christmas Tree a Painful Success
The Calgary Eagle’s 2nd annual Living Christmas tree fundraiser saw two people volunteer to be Christmas trees, and one more to be a fedora. These three brave individuals had their bodies painted with green latex body paint, and decorated with ornaments on plastic pinch-clips. Bar patrons made donations to attach the ornaments to the volunteers, and to be involved with the painting and peeling process. The event raised close to $1200 for the SHARP Foundation, on par with their total from last year.
Roost Closes After 30 Years
New Years Eve was the last day of operation for The Roost nightclub in Edmonton. Last month the bar, which is touted Canada’s longest surviving dance club at an age of 30 years, suddenly announced its planned closure. During their last Sunday night drag show, performer Vanity Fare said it all. “Since I heard the roost was closing a couple weeks ago…I’ve heard nothing but people bitching and complaining that the bar is a dump, and it’s old and it’s about time, blah blah blah. But I just want to say, none of you in this room come to the Roost for the décor…you guys all come to the Roost for the people. The Roost is about the gay people of Edmonton…it’s the people and the patrons who made it what it was for 30 years. It’s going to leave a huge hole in the gay community…” Rumors are already circling, speculating about the potential of the Roost reopening elsewhere, and new bars surfacing to take its place.
Twisted Backpedals Replacement ISCCA Event Night
Twisted Element club owner RayJean Fafard made a pointed statement on the microphone in his club last month during the ISCCA’s CandyCane Queens Christmas show. He claimed that GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine “lied” in a recent article that mentioned the cancellation of the ISCCA’s Wednesday Night “Starlight Nights with a Twist” fundraising shows, announcing that it has instead been re-formatted as “Karaoke with the Court” Wednesdays. But members of the ISCCA board confirmed that the former show had indeed been cancelled indefinitely with no known alternate plans, and that the concept for the new Wednesday night court shows were not seriously discussed until several days after the article was published. As of press, details about the new event have not yet been released by either Twisted Element or the ISCCA, however a representative of the ISCCA stated their first show in the new format is scheduled to occur on January 2nd.
GayCalgary Writer Barred for Door Policy Article
GayCalgary and Edmonton writer Allison Brodowski was barred indefinitely from the Twisted Element while entering the club for casual reasons earlier last month. Club owner RayJean Fafard personally intercepted, and kicked her out along with a group of friends, citing no other reason but her recent article that criticized the bar’s selective cover charge and questionable door policy. Also banned was Sig Moser, a member of the Pride Calgary board, for no stated reason other than his attendance as a director at last month’s controversial Pride AGM. In addition, 7 other people were barred just for being associated with the two. Brodowski stated that she wasn’t surprised about this reaction from Fafard, but isn’t worried about the ban placed on her friends – she doubts Fafard and staff will remember them all or maintain the decision without specific reason to keep them out.
