WinterPRIDE is in full swing at this very moment. There's a very good chance you already know this, as you're probably here for the festival. If so, you're likely aware that, as fun as the past week has been, it's really just a slow, steady build up to this final weekend of world-class entertainment and crazy, crazy parties.
There's also a good chance that you're still trying to decide what to attend. Fortunately
Pique has your interests in mind. As promised, here's Part II of our guide to WinterPRIDE:
Thursday, Feb. 9:
Barefoot Mixology with Wine (Bearfoot Bistro, 1 p.m., to 3 p.m., $10) Every one needs a decent party trick, so why not master a few drink mixes? If your friends aren't impressed with that particular trick at least they'll be drunk and forget soon enough. In any case, the Bearfoot is offering to teach how to use a bottle of Barefoot (it's confusing, we know) wine and create "fabulous cocktails!" Their words, not ours.
WinterPRIDE March (Whistler Village, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Thursday's the day when WinterPRIDE revs up and it starts here, with the first ever (!) pride march through the village. The march will start at mid-station on Whistler Mountain and everyone will ski down to skier's plaza. Non-skiers will meet at 3 p.m. and together everyone will march through the village. In the words of Dean Nelson himself, behold "3,000 beautiful homos filling the village!" Will do.
Après Ski (Whistler Conference Centre, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.): At 5 p.m. Whistler's Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden will make an official proclamation recognizing WinterPRIDE week. This will be followed by lots of celebration and socializing marking this historic event.
Whistler Tasting Tours (Meet at FireRock Lounge, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., $109.99 per person; wine pairings are optional for another $29.99) It's a mini Cornucopia revival for pride week, featuring a tour of four Whistler establishments, starting with the Bearfoot Bistro (which you should be well-acquainted with if you've been following this event calendar), then on to Hy's Steakhouse, Quattro and ending at the FireRock.
WinterPRIDE Comedy Show: (Whistler Conference Centre, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., $36) Okay, some of you don't like to ski. Some of you aren't fond of cowboys. Others have no interest in embracing their inner queen. Fine. We get it. But there's always an event that bridges people's differences and that bridge is known as comedy. Hosted by Vancouver's drag diva Symone Says, the night will include Vancouver comedian Julia Stretch and Los Angeles-based Jason Stuart.
WinterPRIDE Pool Party (Meadow Park Sports Centre, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., $36) Okay, so you don't like comedy either. Sue us. But there's one thing that everyone likes and that's seeing attractive people in bathing suits jumping into pools and then crawling out of them. Yes, this is a near-universal delight, regardless of age or sexual preference, and almost certainly why WinterPRIDE has brought the Pool Party back for another year.
Friday, Feb. 10
Whistler Beer Tasting (Aava Whistler Hotel, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., $10) Do we even need to write this one up? Pay $10, drink beer — and very tasty beer at that. The Whistler Brewery's fine selection of locally brewed, uh, brews are very popular locally, but for those beer-lovin' visitors unfamiliar with Whiskey Jack Ale, you should definitely, definitely spend an hour tasting their samples.
Village T-Dance (Whistler Conference Centre, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., $15) You've come to WinterPRIDE to dance and dance you will. This festival puts no limitation on the time of day that you can dance, hence the afternoon dance party Village T-Dance. Really, it's just a dance warm up for hours and hours of parties coming up in the next few days.
Celebrities SNOWSTORM (Garfinkel's, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $35) What, you thought Celebrities would pass on making its mark at Whistler's gay pride festival? Psssssh. Vancouver's favourite gay club for straight people will transform Garfinkel's into a "pumping dance heaven with a new sound system and intelligent lights." We're not sure what that means but it sounds saucy! This wouldn't be a night at Celebrities without a drag performance and some Go Go Boys go-go dancing. DJ Nick Bertossi, a heavyweight in the Vancouver DJ circuit, will headline the night.
Furrocious (Whistler Conference Centre, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $40) Another marquee event for the festival, but this one is specialized. It's not for the faint of heart, the prudish or the shy. Why, you ask? One word: bears. Hairy chests and leather vests and a whole lot of fur. Masculinity incarnate, in other words. Do you realize what this means? The ad reads, "DJ Ted Eiel gets down and dirty for a night of debauchery" and boy, you better believe it.
Purrlesque (GLC, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $30) Anyone who's seen a burlesque performance knows this will be not so much a pride event as an expression and celebration of female sexuality. It's apparently targeted at the lesbian contingent of festival attendees but it'll be an entertaining way for couples, gay or straight, to spend a Friday night if the other parties don't suit your fancy. Professional burlesque artists Burgundy Brixx will headline the night.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Lap Dancing and Pole Dancing Workshop (Meadow Park Sports Centre, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., $39) Okay, so the excitement has dwindled in the bedroom. So what? Stop complaining and do something about it. Tail Feathers, Whistler's premier pole dancing party company, is hosting this workshop to teach you how to work your way around a pole ...a stripper pole that is. Sexy dance routines will most certainly be learned and even if your partner's not into it, so what? At least you'll get some exercise out of it. Open to all.
Barefoot Wine Tasting (Aava Whistler Hotel, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., $10) While you're partner's busy spinning around a metal pole, why not kill a few hours meeting people and sipping a variety of wines? Yeah, we thought you'd like that idea.
Apres Ski (Whistler Conference Centre, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., $15) The final edition to the WinterPRIDE après sessions. This is the last time this year you'll see all your newfound friends dressed in dorky ski and snowboard gear getting real saucy before either going home to crash or partying themselves silly.
Shred Betties (GLC, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $40) It's the final night for WinterPRIDE and the GLC is sending it off with one massive bash for the ladies. Prepare yourself for "HOT snow bunnies," pummeling beats a la Flygirl, DJ Riki Rocket and Miss M and a batch of performers that'll have you waiting impatiently for WinterPRide 2013.
Snowball Dance 'Til Dawn (Whistler Conference Centre, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., $75). This is the big one, the final send off, what pride week had been building up to. The annual Snowball turns 20 this week and it's going to be huge. DJ Adam Dreaddy starts the night off and Manny Lehman finishes off. (For more on Manny Lehman, see page 76).
