Oakland will be a real drag from Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28 when 100 drag queens, drag kings, and radical queer performers take to the stages in Oakland for a three day drag-a-thon which will include live performances, music, vendors, and art.

April may bring you showers, but nightlife surely brings you joy, wet or dry.

Brent Barrett, known for his performances in 'The Phantom of the Opera,' has not named his solo cabaret show after the half-masked man's signature number "The Music of the Night." Instead, it's called "Night Songs."

Stars shined brightly at the April 10 opening of the San Francisco International Film Festival, which featured a screening of the first episode from the new series, Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City.'

Get your gear on, strap in for fun at nightclubs, bars, and special venues with added fun.

While fundraisers and drag queens are commonplace in the Castro, it's rare that 100 percent of the proceeds from a three-hour Friday event goes to a great cause. Enter The Disco Coalition.

Recently, a young gay man messaged me, stating, "I've tried the leather scene. It's not for me." I asked why. He said, "It's not about sex anymore. It's not even about anything erotic anymore." Was he correct?

On Saturday April 13, the Hole in the Wall Saloon will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a party. The bar is best known for its colorful (some say surreal) decor, and for its rock music.

The second monthly Queer Bowling night at Mission Bowling Club was a strike, er, hit! On March 25, LGBTQ folks enjoyed tasty beer & bar food, DJs Marke B and Siobhan Aluvalot played fun grooves, and colorful bowling balls matched the festive attendees.

You may have noticed a few new winners this year. In the tradition of multi-year winners who gracefully volunteered to move to 'emeritus' status, in order to give other talented folks a chance, we've omitted a few familiar favorites.

The Besties give us an opportunity to visit some longtime favorite watering holes, to visit some of the newer venues in town and unfortunately to note the passing of one venue.

They love the nightlife, they love to boogie. And this year, our creatures of the night like to mix it up. We've got all new winners in the bartending category, a ladies rout in the comedy club, and a wake-up call in the gogo guys competition.

"We are everywhere!" may be a queer community rallying cry, but once again, Bestie voters don't seem to eat anywhere but the Castro and the Mission.

Our Besties issue comes once a year, but each week we bring you the best of LGBT events, and some others that are just fun.