Check out these newly released Rapture-Victory vids of drag star Cassandra performing to Katy Perry's "E T" and Peter Breeze doing a mashup of "Taxi" and his new song "New York Fashion Week". Werk!

Both of my heads are spinning with Pride! I'm getting excited for the Pride Ball at The Cobalt tonight but am so disappointed that I won't be able to make it to The Helm (1180 Howe St) to meet the fabulous Anjulie, who is performing! Word on the street is that it's going to be off the hook, and if I could be two people, you bet your stretched-out asshole I'd be there. Check out Anjulie's new single, "Brand New Bitch" (below). She's the Robyn of Canada! Loving it. 

New restaurant alert: L'Abbatoir is having their grand opening tonight. I will be attending and will give you a run down by the end of the week. 

It's less than twenty days now until Vancouver is overrun by the unwashed LGBTA hordes for this year's Pride. Xtra Vancouver's Pride Guide will be released this Wednesday here online at Xtra.ca and also in the newspaper that is distributed all throughout the Lower Mainland. Read it. Study it. Make sweet, sultry love to it.

In advance of the Pride Guide, I've had a few promoters contact me about cheaper tickets for large Pride events. As with most things, the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is. If you wait another week, prices will go up, so shit or get off the pot. Here are a couple to think about:

1. Rapture: Ignition and Rapture: Victory - You have until July 15 to save some money on these tickets. Click on the links to find out how much. As expected, the Victory party on Sunday is looking sleek and mean and will guarantee sell out like last year. I remember hosting last year's Sunday and having people come up to me inside to ask where they could get tickets for friends waiting outside. Firstly: once the tickets are sold out, you are SOL. Secondly: this isn't the type of thing you ask people on the main floor at the Commodore, so smarten the fuck up and plan ahead.

2. Iron Rod - This is the East Side's version of the circuit-style parties that happen every year. Limited pre-sale tickets are currently available at Priape for $18. That's a steal, people. I like Open Studios and I'm definitely interested in seeing whether this party is the start of a new kind of circuit event here in Vancouver.

Something funny is coming your way Wednesday. Have a good start to your week. Heart. Heart. Heart. Winking Smiling Face. 

Any circuit party with an "X" in the header just reeks of trouble, no? Well, Vancouver's big Pride party has been making some announcements over the past couple of weeks, and it sounds like TFD Productions are cooking up a doozie this year for their 10th anniversary.

We have yet to hear about the Sunday headliner, but Saturday's Ignition will feature DJ Ana Paula. I think she's best on the big stage. Her recent turns at Celebrities (during the Olympics) and the former Pulse (last fall) didn't do her credit. Something about smaller venues just doesn't fly. She needs to get out on a stage while spinning. Trust me. I high-fived that girl in Toronto last summer and meant every finger smack.

It turns out that LA scenesters Jessica and Hunter will be hosting Saturday and Sunday... along with doing a turn on the Rapture float during the Pride parade:

They are pretty funnay. It's like watching Vancouver's Miss Cotton split into a guy and a girl.

I'm not going to lie. On Saturday morning, I was actually wondering if I was going to make it through this weekend in one piece. Last year, I had to skip Rapture because I was too exhausted to go. This year, I dug deep and hit 6 of the 8 Pride picks I made in the Xtra West Pride Guide. For most of it, I was wearing underwear and swimwear (or less)...which means I didn't have a camera available for photos. If friends donate, I will post Pride shots here this week. If you have any you'd like to send, send them to vancouvergayblog@gmail.com.

I don't want to go on and on about every event I covered, but want to tell you this: there are some incredibly talented people in this city and some excellent music filling our clubs and night spaces.

From stripping for Odyssey's Shower Power (I donated my time to the Heath Initiative for Men) to marching in the parade for Jagermeister to hosting the incredibly successful Rapture parties and everything in between, I can tell you that I have had the Pride of all Prides this year and have a better understanding of what that means for me. For some people, Pride is a political statement about their sexuality. For me, it's about celebrating who you are with community and your friends. Hallmark moment. Sure. But I really do mean that. There is no other time of year where I feel so visible and so part of something so much bigger than myself.

Music-wise, I also think I have a better understanding of house music. Although I was getting body painted in the basement of Celebrities on Sunday during DJ Bertossi's set, his set was so good I could hardly stand still and recommend you check him out next time he's headlining a big event.

Having popped my circuit cherry this summer in Toronto, I will say this: you haven't lived until you experienced a large-scale, full-produciton Pride circuit party. You wonder if the $90 ticket price is worth it? It totally is.

My friend Tommy D and his partner Anna T Fabulous from the Flame and the Dame exceeded my expecations from what I saw in Toronto. The Rapture parties on Saturday and Sunday were incredible. The performace by Kamalektra transcended drag. It was visual and aural art. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I lifted this photo from her myspace page and although it didn't even come close to what I saw Saturday, it will give you an idea of what sort of costume she's capable of preparing:

If you were at the sold out party on Sunday, you will know why circuit house is made for people who truly love to dance. Tony Moran layed down a dark, punchy set. And the performances by Nina Flowers were terrifying. 

At some point during the weekend, I heard a remix of this song and loved it. Already looking forward to next year...