Labor Day… the unofficial end of Summer, and how appropriate that is with this thought I’m sharing with you from a portion of an email I received from one of my bestest girlfriends, Miss Summer Clearence.

“It is with great sadness and, honestly, a big relief at the same time that the time has come for me to finally bid farewell and let the spotlight burn out. Coming Saturday, September 13th, 2008, will be a long awaited Goodbye to all my friends, colleagues, and fellow performers, and a Hello to a life free of make-up, hose, heels, wigs! I have come to a decision in the last couple of weeks to just concentrate on my life and to pursue talents in other areas. I feel I have met many challenges in my career and conquered as many as I could. It's time to let other up and coming entertainers take over the stage. To quote Brother Boy -' Somebody has to carry on the legacy' … I will be active in some upcoming pageants including my own Mr. Western North Carolina Leather sometime next year … Thank you for all the wonderful times and the outstanding memories I will treasure forever. See you soon, Much love! Summer Clearence”.

Now that is a true lady.

So dry your eyes and read on because I have an incredible announcement. It has finally happened. After almost a year of planning, sweating, rumors and anticipation, oiaTV is a reality. We debuted episode one at the beginning of August and as of press time Episode 5 has just gone on line. Now for those of you who are not familiar with oiaTV (meaning those of you who have just moved into town from another country in the last week) oiaTV is a weekly variety format vlog (that’s video blog) broadcast via the internet. It is available for viewing 24/7 anywhere a high-speed Internet connection is available. A new episode will debut every Friday evening. And now for the best part of the announcement: it’s hosted by ME! I’m now a global Internet star, and I didn’t even have to take my clothes off (shut up Summer!) So please, turn it on, tune it in, and let us here at OIA know what you think. We want to be YOUR online television show.

OK… let’s start down south, in the Upstate, again this month (yes, I know… we’ll start somewhere else next month). Greenville is becoming quite the happening place.

Sugar Shack, owner Stephanie Howard and her staff just recently celebrated their third anniversary of being in business. One of Greenville’s biggest club bashes celebrated the event. So to all the doubters as to whether the Shack would survive, I say Hah! Snaps from this month’s Snap Jar go to the other Stephanie, her staff, and her supporters. Congratulations!

A few of Sugar Shack’s highlights for the month: On Saturday, September 6th and Friday, September 19th, Sugar Shack presents a Dance and Karaoke Party with the one and only, Donna B. Then on Saturday, September 13th and 17th, it’s the Sugar Daddies hosted by Randy O’Reilly, The Best King and Queen Show at 11:00 pm. Coming to the Sugar Shack, live, on Friday, September 5th, it’s Barbara Gehlmann. On Friday the 12th, Karma presents Greenville’s top DJs, and on Friday the 26th it’s Halcyon. Don’t forget about Sugar Shack’s regular line up of nightly fun, such as Sunday Guitar Hero and Beer Pong, or their Last Thursday’s Live DJ. As always, for the most up to date info about the Sugar Shack, you can go to their website at www.sugarshackclub.com.

Greenville’s latest offering to the gay club scene, Club Skittles, is still going strong and building up momentum. It’s a little hard to find, but well worth the search. If you know where the new Bloom is on S. Pleasantburg Drive, well Club Skittles is right around the corner, next door to the motel. Everyone made me feel very much at home on my last visit and I’m sure they’ll make you feel that way too

Club Skittles is now open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 pm. Full liquor, beer and wine service is available with nightly drink specials; $3 house shots, $3 domestics, and a bartender’s choice. Friday night is always show night at Club Skittles as show director Amanda Blake is joined on the Skittles stage by some of the South’s best up and comers both Male and Female. On Saturday nights, their live DJ rocks the house with your favorite dance tunes.

You can log on to their myspace page at www.myspace.com/clubskittlesgville for directions to this new Upstate offering. Of course, you must go in and check them out for yourself, and remember to tell them you read about it here.

OK, up the mountain towards Asheville and let’s take a peek at what’s going on in the “San Francisco of the East.”

Smokey’s After Dark continues with their summer line-up of drink specials and theme nights. Smokey’s features Sunday Bloody Sunday… $3 Bloody Marys and lots of men. Monday is Beer and Balls Monday at Smokey’s with $2 domestic beers, Free Pool and lots of men. Tuesday is Tea Party with Robbie, $3 Long Island Iced Teas and more men (Have you noticed the theme here?…MEN!). Wednesday is Bourbon, Bingo, and Bob. Free Bingo called by a celebrity bingo caller, $3 Bourbon and Coke, fabulous bingo prizes and a bunch of men. Thursday is 80’s night. Celebrate the dark days of disco with their dark liquor hi ball special; $3 Bourbon, Scotch, or Rum and, of course… men. Ladies, don’t feel left out, I have personally seen quite a few very hot women drop in to Smokey’s, why not give it a try? And don’t forget, at Smokey’s… there’s never a cover.

Now, just two doors down from Smokey’s is Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues. Redefining the art of night clubbing. The ambiance takes you straight to the French Quarter of New Orleans, a little bit of Royal Street, right here on Broadway (see Tressa, I was paying attention). Speaking of Tressa, I had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with the fiery redhead recently in front of the oiaTV cameras for an upcoming episode of oiaTV. If you’ve never enjoyed the Tressa’s experience, we’ll give you a peak inside. Tressa’s famous Martini list is one of the most extensive I’ve seen, anywhere, and the service is, in a word, perfect. Once you’ve got your favorite adult beverage, from one of the many talented and good looking bartenders or servers (Hello Travis!!! You know what I mean) grab a table and get ready to be wowed by the line up of entertainment at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues.

Tressa’s weekly line up begins on Monday Night with Industry Night, this night is just for us. DJ Izzy Mayfield spins your favorites all night long and the staff of Tressa’s offers up expert service. Just show your industry ID for a waived cover and let the good times roll. Tuesdays continue strong with Chuck Lichtenberg and his special formats of emulating the great jazz styles of the masters, and Wednesdays are Ladies Night, always a hit. Ms. Jones and the Velvetones are back! Tressa’s is also bringing back a monthly “La Cage” styled revue courtesy of Natalie Productions. All weeknight shows begin a 9.

SRO weekends begin on Thursday and are the norm at Tressa’s with top name entertainment on Friday and Saturday. The smoke-free Luxury Lounge and Oxygen Bar upstairs are open for a breath of fresh air and a bit of intimate conversation (are you reading this Travis?).
This month’s line up at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues begins with Thursday Sept 4th - LIFT with DJs Joshua and Trevor; Delicious Music for your Body and Soul. Friday, September 5th it’s Mark Keller: Party Time with Blues, Dance, and Martinis. Saturday, the 6th join Ruby Mayfield and M-Pride for fun and dancing with Blues to Rock'n Roll. 

Thursday, Septemer 11th it’s Peggy Ratusz' Invitational Blues Jam. This will be a great night of fun with local artists. On Friday, the 12th, Peggy Ratusz returns with Daddy longlegs for more fun, Dancing and Blues. On Saturday the13th, The Levi Douglas Blues Band, a great Texas Blues band, will take the stage. Then, on Thursday, September 18th, Natalie Smalls Productions is back, by popular demand, once again presenting Twilight Cabaret, which will feature some of Asheville’s finest female impersonators. Joining Natalie that night will be (ME!!!) Stephanie Sinclair along the Legend of the South, Gilda, Adara McDaniels and Chyna.

Friday the 19th features Banana de Terra. Get your feet moving and start your weekend off with Latin American rhythms. On Saturday the 20th, join Ms Jones and The Velvetones for some weekend fun with dancing and great Martinis. Thursday, September 25th will feature the Free Flow Trio bringing you some Soul and Funk and lots of fun. On Friday the 26th, The Nightcrawlers take the stage for some Blues and Dance. Then on Saturday the 27th, Free Flow The Band will help you celebrate your weekend with Soul and Funk and lots of fun.

And a very special Sunday, on September 28th, beginning at 6pm Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues presents A Night in The French Quarter - Katrina's 3rd Year Anniversary Fundraiser to benefit the Nehemiaha Project. This will be a star-studded night with everything from Drag and Palm Reading to Dancing and Jazz. There's still soooo much to do, let's help rebuild New Orleans.
 
Let’s move over to North French Broad and check out what’s happening at Club Hairspray. Now I know that the rumor mill is running at high speed about things going on at Club Hairspray so first these are definite happenings.

Start each week with Manic Mondays, Brandi, Free pool  and $1 PBRs.

Tuesdays are Talented Tuesdays with Shorty and more Free pool, $2 Miller Lite - $5 Jager Shots. The Hairspray Idol competition begins Sept. 2nd with Weekly chance to win $25 bar tab and Monthly semi-finals chance to win $100 cash prize. Finals will be in December for chance to win $500 cash prize. Any talent welcome! Information is available on www.myspace.com/clubhairsprayasheville.

Wednesdays are Wild Wednesdays with Jamie & Shorty. I love the 90’s night featuring DJ Position spinning the best mix of your favorite 90’s dance music. $2 Yuengling - $5 Long Island Iced Tea’s.

Thursdays are Thirsty Thursdays with Jamie & Brandi. It’s also College Night with Sound Extreme Karaoke; Top 40 dance music and Karaoke all night. Quench your thirst with $2 Mich Ultra and $4 Red Headed Sluts.

Fridays are always Fabulous with Shorty & Jamie. Live acts/musicians every week.  Here’s the line up for September:
9-5-08: Jazz Salm
9-12-08: Natalie Productions presents an evening of Illusion with Natalie Smalls, Stephanie Sinclair, Adara McDaniels, and Cookie LaRue.
9-19-08: Jazz Salm w/ special guest
9-26-08: Court of Kings (Drag Kings) from Atlanta.
And every Friday night you can enjoy $2 Bud Light - $4 Well Liquor drinks.

Saturdays are Sinful Saturdays with Jamie & Brandi and The Queens of Hairspray featuring the Ashley Michaels Showcase with Ashley and her special guests. $2 Mich Ultra - $4 Sex on the Beach and the featured Saturday specials.

Sundays are Service Industry Night at Club Hairspray with Jamie, Free pool and $3 Mimosas and $4 Bloody Mary’s.

Now as for rumors that a new club is to open at Club Hairspray, you’ll have to read my weekly column in OIA’s Come Out and Play for details about that.

Now, moving on the the tri-plex of fun, O.Henry’s, Straps, and LaRue’s it’s a jam packed month. Miss Sinclair sat down the other day with the recently vacationed and well rested Pete Moyle who clued me in on some of the happenings at the tri-plex.

“O.Henry's continues not only their daily drink specials that change every day, but also continues its 'Membership has Privilege', and awards our members with a special that changes monthly.”  Pete continued, “Our pool tables continue to be open and free both Wednesdays and Sundays, and open for the entire day and night, not just the slow hours as other clubs offer.  We are currently in conversations with the newly formed and started Asheville Gay Bowling League as to ways to promote this exciting new club.  The talents of 'The Asheville Angels', a production of impersonation put on by Natalie Productions, liven up our stage and Saturday nights with weekly shows at midnight, the line up changes each week with 3 or 4 impersonators pulling out all the plugs to entertain you.  We continue to believe and brag that we have the friendliest and most professional bar staff in the area and open our doors EVERY day 24/7 of every week, and every month, if its after 2pm and before 3am, yes we are open!” 

Now I had to stop Pete for a minute as I can only write so fast, but he excitedly continued, “Straps, the area’s only Leather/Levi bar is open each Friday and Saturday night of the week, offering up $2.00 draft beers served in 16oz chilled mugs, daily drink specials, and featured drinks. The Leather club (WNC Leathermen) meet each and every first Saturday of the month (Sept. 6th) and fill the bar with overflow into the two other clubs of the triplex with their membership.  This bars motif is a sight to behold, done in a very masculine tone yet leaving a feeling of comfort to you as you sit and converse with either the bartender, or another friendly customer”.

Now if all that’s not enough, Monday Nights at O.Henry’s feature VJ Drew and Bartender Scott presenting Cyber Jukebox. The best of the Internet right there at the bar; YouTube videos, new music releases, even clips from oiaTV’s coverage of the best of the best. You’ve just got to check it out. Friday Nights are smokin’ at O.Ho’s as Asheville’s own DJ Captain IGuy brings the newest and best of the dance and techno charts to you, live. And speaking of Friday Nights at O.Henry’s, check out my column in Come Out and Play for an exciting announcement about Friday Nights at O.Henry’s.

Natalie herself sat down and shared with me her “Star Studded” line-up for September.

On Saturday, the 6th, Natalie presents, Phoebe Fabu, Chyna, and Tiffany Stone. Then on the 13th, Amanda Blake, Lisa Fontaine, Summer Clearence, Amanda Love will join the cast of the Asheville Angels. On Saturday the 20th, Natalie presents Me, Stephanie Sinclair, and joining me direct from Hickory are; Shana Nicole and Dame Allen along with Asheville’s own, Butch. Closing out the month on the 27th, OMG!!! It’s the one and only Heather Daniels joining Natalie Smalls and Adara McDaniels for an evening to remember.

This month at the LaRue's Backdoor! 

Cookie LaRue would like everyone in Asheville to know that she considers the " freaks’, ‘outsiders’, ‘embarrassments’ and everyone else who has ever felt shunned by a ‘community’ that is supposed to be so Diverse and accepting, has a home. And that home is called LaRue's Backdoor.”

With that said, September at the Backdoor is all about DRAG!  Those fabulous queens who have worked so hard to get us where we are today!

Wednesday with Michael is now Tranny Night.  Of course, Bud and Diet Bud are still on special for $2!  But each Wednesday in September there is a drink special based on what one of your favorite Asheville DRAG entertainers drinks!  The Backdoor starts off the Month with The Natalie Smalls (Seagram’s 7 and Coke) and it is only going to get better from there (Just wait ‘til Stephanie Sinclair Night, the Vodka will be flowing! I’ll even be there to serve and entertain… imagine that, a drag show on a Wednesday). 

Rosie continues to offer up her own brand of excitement on Thursday nights, if all you ladies need a place to play! Plus there is always entertainment on Thursday's for the boys as well! 

The Thursday Night Line Up at LaRue’s Backdoor looks like this:

On September 4th, Michael Sheldon (aka Cookie LaRue) takes the stage in boy drag for a very special acoustic show.

September 11th is the Backdoor’s monthly benefit for Loving Food Resources, The Queer Factor: Prick-tionary Edition!  Let's see just how Ma Bell draws a blow job!!

September 18th is Wide Open Mic Night!  You have 15 minutes to do whatever you want on the Backdoor Stage (except Mime).

Saturday, Sept 20th is, of course, the Backdoor's Classic Country Night. Get yer Boot Scoot Boogie on with the classic sounds of Dolly, Hank, Waylon and Willy!  Yee Haw Ya'll!

And Wednesday September 24th is the Backdoor Olympics!  How far will you go for a free (well Cookie's buying) drink?  You would be amazed at what some people would do (like Summer Clearence).

Again, to stress the point, the fine folks at LaRue's Backdoor not only appreciate but understand how vital every single one of us in our "community" is.  No matter what some may say!

Big News!  There is a rumor going around that Cookie and Frankie are starting to work on an All New Show for September!    According to local gossip it is called "There's An Angry Lesbian In The Coffee House Tonight!"  From what we hear Miss LaRue has a rather big announcement to make . . . what does she keep in that closet anyway . . .?

For more info on these and other events to special to mention check our Cookie's myspace page www.myspace.com/laruesbackdoor.

Last stop…Hickory and Club Cabaret. Owner and resident cutie, Jeff Reeves tells me that now Club Cabaret is open Wednesday thru Sunday, from 9:30, this means a whole extra night of Club Cabaret every week. Some of the nightly features at Club Cabaret are Wednesday Night …Karaoke with the one and only Monica Jeffries playing all your Karaoke favorites. Thursday night is Retro night. Break out the polyester and gold chains and come on in for some of the “baddest” (remember when we called everything good, “bad”), old school disco tunes.

Friday night at Club Cabaret is show night, bringing you some of the biggest names in local female impersonation such as Shana Nicole, Kristin Collins and Victoria Victors. Saturday Night at Club Cabaret is dance night. Come on out and shake what you got to the live DJ spinning all your dance favorites… and you’ll never know who might take to the stage to perform at midnight. Sunday Night at Club Cabaret is your night to shine when Monica Jeffries once again turns over the stage and the mic to you, Come out and show what you’ve got. It’s always a good time at Club Cabaret. I know when I’m in Hickory; Club Cabaret is on my list of stops.

OK… that’s it for now. As I always say, if you don’t see it here, or read it in my newsletter, it either isn’t happening, or you don’t need to be there. And now if you miss it, you can catch it on oiaTV. So Drive Carefully, Drink Responsibly, and Play Safely. I want you all back reading my column next month.

Stephanie