14 Gay Things to Do This Week: NSFW Dance Party Gets Hung, Santaland at Boxers PHL, Drag Wars 5 Finale and More
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South Philly Holiday Lights Walk
William Way Community Center's Philaventures troupe is leading a tour outside the Gayborhood to ogle the winter wonderland that is South Philadelphia during the holidays. If you haven't seen the lights, the spectacle, the houses blaring Mariah Christmas songs in this corner of the city, you haven't lived. And if you have, well a gay tour will have you seeing it in a whole new light. Tuesday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m., free, meet in front of Potito's, 1614 West Ritner Street (where you can grab a treat for your stroll).


Bebashi Holiday Toy Drive
There are way too many kids out there who wouldn't ordinarily be getting gifts this Christmas morning, but thanks to organizations like Bebashi Transition to Hope, their fates may be changing this year. Help the local HIV-educating nonprofit raise toys for kids in its Holiday Toy Drive. They're looking for donations of toys, clothing, books and even financial contributions that will be delivered to homes on December 22nd—just in time for Santa to place them under the tree. Details on when and where to give here: Mondays through Fridays through December 19th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bebashi Transition to Hope, 1217 Spring Garden Street, 215-769-3561.


#VentureVariety
If you haven't taken yourself to #VentureVariety, this last romp of the season is a good time to start. Local bartender Billy Cavallo puts together a great list of local talent, performing live on stage each month at Venture Inn. This time around: Zsa Zsa St. James The Lady Miss Kitten, Madelaine Christina Minola Novak, Envoûté: Magic Burlesque's Adam Iezzi, Jen Chesterson, and of course Cavallo, who—bonus point—always performs in his undies. Wednesday, December 17th, 11 p.m., free, Venture Inn, 255 South Camac Street.


Dynasty Realness
What more needs to be said here: Philly's most irreverent, raunchy, hilarious experimental theater troupe takes on '80s late-night soap Dynasty! Expect cat fights and fountains and shoulder pads galore! Wednesday, December 17th, 11 p.m., $1.99, Bob and Barbara's, 1509 South Street.


Holiday Sale at Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room
Hard-to-find sartorial treasures abound at Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room, and this week you can nab the already dirt-cheap threads for an extra 25 percent. For four days this week, all clothing will be discounted—I'm talking furs, sweaters, coats, sequined gowns—everything—just in time for the holidays (and for that last-minute ugly Christmas sweater party). Thursday, December 18th to Sunday, December 21st, Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room, 345 South 12th Street.


Santaland at Boxers PHL
Boxers PHL wants you to know its not all boys running around in mesh shorts (some sans don't underwear, I'm told!) and cocktails. This week the Gayborhood's newest bar is throwing a holiday fundraiser to raise money for Camp Dreamcatcher, a Chester County organization for kids who are affected by HIV. The dough will come from a Grand Silent auction featuring "40 unique experiences." Boxers PHL folks are staying mum on what these experiences are, but when I asked they sent the above photo. (A date with a sexy elf?) The evening will also include performances, light hors d'oeuvres, and speciality cocktails. There will also be a "Pick-A-Family" stocking wall set up so you can donate to families in need, so bring in some stocking stuffers, like clothing, board games, socks, little red mesh shorts. Thursday, December 19th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., free, Boxers PHL, 1330 Walnut Street.


Jingle Belles at Tabu
Nightcap Cabaret's peppy song-and-dance troupe The Jingle Belles will be jingling all the way to Tabu this week for three sassy holiday performances. Performer Nate Golden explains it as, "one big silly montage of Christmas wishes: wishing for your man was with you at Christmas, wishing the holidays didn't mean working so much, wishing that cute boy would just say he likes you already, and wishing for courage to come out of the closet and be the true you." The tunes will be picked via Mad-Libs suggestions from the audience, so there's no telling what you're gonna get, well, except for a healthy dose of ass-swishing holiday tunes and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Friday, December 19th, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; and Saturday, December 20th, 8 p.m., $10 (includes one free beverage), Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, 200 South 12th Street.


HUNG: An NSFW Dance Party
Stockings (or something like that) will be stuffed, Christmas balls will be dangling and holiday packages will be bounced around like basketballs at this month's NSFW Dance Party, themed HUNG. The night features tunes by DJs Sharyn Stone and Trprkpr. Friday, December 19th, 10 p.m., free, Medusa Lounge, 27 South 21st Street.


Holiday Stimulus
Lesbian dance party Stimulus is venturing into new territory for its much-anticipated holiday soiree: it's moving its party to a Saturday night. The evening promises all the usual Stimulus fare—DJs, dancing, shot girls—with an extra dose of sexy ladies in their sexiest holiday attire. Bring a mistletoe! Saturday, December 20th, 10 p.m., $10, Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 Saint James Street.


Recurring
- Practice your best poker face at Bluffin' With Butch at Boxers PHL (Tuesday)
- Songbird roars into week two with Beyonce week (Tuesday)
- Tribe of Fools celebrates the Jewish holiday with Hanna-karaoke (Tuesday)
- We're down the final five in Mr. Everything, but only one will walk away with the title of Philly's best male-identified performer (and $1,000) (Wednesday)
- Drag Wars 5 comes to an end this week, too. Which queen will walk away with the bragging rights (cause you know she gon' brag)? (Thursday)
