THURSDAY 5/8

TRANSLATIONS FILM FEST EXPLORES TRANS LIFE

May is all about celluloid. And booze! And unbridled fudgepackery. SIFF opens next week (OH! THE GAYNESS! OH! The VODKA!), so does the very queer Shorty Shorts (more on that in a later column), and tonight brings us the exciting opening of Translations, Seattle's nine-year-old film festival celebrating all things transgender—the joys, surprises, and singular struggles. Tonight this acclaimed three-day film fest (May 8–11) opens with, um, live performance? Huh. Live performance! It's the West Coast premiere of a multimedia transtravaganza called The Naked I: Insides Out, featuring live monologues as well as film. It's going to be fascinating, and dare I say transformational? Um, no. I dare not. Sorry. Harvard Exit, 7:15 pm, $16, all ages.

FRIDAY 5/9

THROW SOME SHADE AT THE DIRTY BIRD

You look like you need a stiff drink. (Or 12.) And a little dancing. I know! Let's go to the Dirty Bird (aka the Eagle)! We haven't been there in a while. BWAHAHA! Kidding! Kidding. But know this: DJ Nark is out of town, traveling through Europe, don'tcha know, so tonight the Eagle is giving us the next best thing... Shade, that new queer once-a-monther I mentioned here a while back. Featuring the "music sex" of DJs Ill Camino and Jackson (cram 'em into your ear holes!), and the talented Rachel Robinson shall even take your pretty picture. Smile! The Eagle, 9 pm, $7, 21+.

SATURDAY 5/10

DAN SAVAGE AND TONY KUSHNER, SITTIN' IN A TREE

You're a big gaymosexual, right? Well, of course you are. (Duh.) So of course there are two gaymosexual notables—luminaries even—who have probably had a powerful influence on forming your little gay brain: Dan Savage (admit it!) and my personal hero (just kidding! I don't have heroes... you should be your own hero), Mr. Tony Kushner. The Intiman is putting on something called the "Angels Project," which is a whole bunch of little performances all centered on a revival of Tony's deeply awesome and disturbing Angels in America. This afternoon (this event happens during daylight hours! How novel!), Dan and Tony are gonna sit down and talk about it. All of it! AIDS, the apocalypse, drag, Mormons, you name it. And we all get to listen in! Town Hall, 2 pm, $10. recommended