Out & About

Are you dusting off your pride for Pride season yet? I sure am! I’m feeling as fabulous as Lil Nas X’s Met Gala costume! I don’t know how he did it. I would have sweat all that off in 5 minutes. Another thing to be proud of is how many amazing community events there have been this last month! Let’s hope May can measure up to the bar set by April!

The Mr. Bolt Leather 2024 contest on Apr. 30 was so much fun and what an awesome, diverse turn out! A wonderful cross section of the community came out to support contestants Jayy Wonder, Mike Ryder, Aaron Thomas Piccirillo and Timothy Salyer. Piccirillo was announced the new titleholder at the end of the evening which had Taryn Thru-U as the emcee and included an ASL interpreter. Congratulations to the new Mr. Bolt Leather 2024! Sacbolt.com

May 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day which offers us a chance to remind people about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. Also May 19 is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The API community often gets overlooked in the discussion about HIV/AIDS even after the first NAPIHAD was observed in 2005. To learn more visit HIV.gov

Join us Friday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. for the Outword & Badlands Liquid Therapy Happy Hour at Badlands Sacramento, 2003 K St. You never know who might make a surprise appearance. Enjoy drink specials, music videos, giveaways and of course friends!

The annual 20-Twenty exhibit is Sacramento’s most anticipated yearly art show. This year some of the finest new collections have been brought together to grace the walls of Kennedy Gallery. The «20-Twenty» exhibit runs May 11 - July 2, Noon - 6 p.m. at Kennedy Gallery, 1931 L St., and features works from over 20 resident artists inside three floors of open studios in the heart of Midtown’s entertainment district. Kennedygallery.net

Anything called FoodieLand has my immediate attention! FoodieLand Night Market is a yearly foodie-inspired multicultural food and entertainment event at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. With over 150 food and merchandise vendors FoodieLand promises a variety of amazing foods, arts, crafts, games and entertainment for the whole family. May 12 - 14. Foodielandnm.com/sacramento

The Hombres at Capital Stage, 2215 J St., takes a look at the intimacy of male relationships through the point of view of Latino culture. The production runs through Jun. 4. Capstage.org

The Lavender Library, 1414 21st St., has extended its hours to be open Mondays and Fridays. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers this is the first time the library has expanded its hours in three years. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer visit their website. Lavenderlibrary.com

From May 25 - 27 Punch Line Sacramento, 2100 Arden Way, will host Steve Furey who is said to be one of the sharpest young stand-ups in the comedy world. Furey is a regular at The World Famous Comedy Store and can currently be seen on E! as a co-host of Dating#NoFilter. Punchlinesac.com

Prepare for May 20 to be a drag of phenomenal proportions! Scream Queens Gorelesque is presenting the Twisted Dolls Cabaret at The Colonial Theater, 3522 Stockton Blvd. at 8 p.m. The event is 18+. Lovehorrorevents.com

The 2023 NorCal AIDS Cycle gets underway Saturday, May 20, kicking off a two-day weekend ride which will allow cyclists and crew to come together while raising funds for Northern California’s HIV/AIDS organizations. To donate to this year’s event go to Norcalaidscycle.org

East Sonora Theatre, 13891 Mono Way in Sonora, will be playing Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park with George through June 11. The 1984 Pulitzer Prize drama follows George who finds himself burnt out and in search of what artistic path to follow, but he finds the answer to his future in the past. Sierrarep.org

Events, birthdays, announcements? Send them to matthew@hengemedia.com.