I’m actually at a loss for something to talk about in length for this month’s column.  I have no burning topics on my mind, community-wise, philosophy-wise, or otherwise.  Steve and I haven’t gone on any great excursions to events in the community – although a number of things happened this month, it is not enough to make a main topic out of it.

For me, the most significant things that happened this month occurred in my work life at my full-time day job, which although good and exciting, are not suitable fodder for this column.

Otherwise, for the past several months I’ve been on something of a mission.  Call it a new year’s resolution if you will, though I started it slightly before 2013.  I’m putting people first; I’m no longer letting our mountain of magazine obligations prevent me from spending time building better friendships with the people around me in my everyday life.

It seems odd, considering we do a lot of philanthropic work through the magazine to benefit people en masse, that we’ve had so little time to spend with individuals.  Many people have tried to pin us down, but we’ve had so many reasons to be unavailable.

This past month Steve has continued to really miss his friend Don who passed away in December of last year, and sadly it seems like every month since then, we’ve heard news about at least one other person we know in the community passing away similarly from Cancer.  For instance, just recently we lost Kevin Keleher who we knew for his involvement in Calgary’s ISCCA, and Chuck Lonestar who reigned opposite Southern Comfort as Emperor 31 of Edmonton’s ISCWR.

I have to admit, Steve was starting to drive me crazy when I got home from work because, after being cooped up at home the whole day, he was about bursting at the seams to talk to somebody.  So after a heart to heart discussion, I got him onboard for this resolution to spend more time with people, and build new friendships.

It would probably be too much now to go back and try to take people up on their past offers for social time.  So we’ve started small, taking opportunities as they come (within reason), and already we’ve spent some good quality time with people we like, getting to know them better, and at the same time allowing them to get to know us better too.

So far we are feeling really good about it.  For many, this may already be something that comes so naturally that they take it for granted.  For us, we’re finally realizing how good it feels to spend time with, and open up to people that we connect with on a deeper personal level - not just on a business level.

But we’ll see how well we can keep this up as we head into our busier months of the year.

In Calgary, Roxy Riccochet’s Disney themed show at the Texas Lounge brought out a solid crowd who were entertained by such numbers as Ernestine dressed up as Sebastian the Crab, and Dyna Myte as a stunning Cruella DeVille.  However, we were left guessing who was the beauty and who was the beast...haha, I kid.  It was a fun night!

We made it out for the Buck Angel discussion panel organized by Fairy Tales at the University of Calgary.  The topics discussed were fascinating enough, but we also got the special opportunity to hang out and chat with Buck afterwards at the Backlot.

For some reason this month we were also invited to a whole slew of mainstream social events in Calgary, starting with a preview party for a new Earls restaurant in Shepard Flats.  We, amongst other media, were treated to all we could eat sample entrees and all we could drink alcoholic beverages (which for me, driving, meant getting a taste only), all while enjoying the mellow rustic atmosphere of the new establishment.  We had been sent food samples in advance, and on the way out received even more!

Later in the month, we were invited to a media gathering at the Calgary Home and Garden Show where we were treated to further food and drink before being turned loose to explore the massive expo, spanning the majority of the Round Up Centre and the Corral.  It was a lot of walking but there were many booths that gave us neat ideas for articles, reviews, and future home improvements.

Finally we headed over to the Blackfoot Inn to celebrate their 40th anniversary, with more food, drink, and a tour of their newly renovated suites.

Our only excursion out to Edmonton this month was on the weekend of the 23rd.

We arrived on Friday and made it over to Hooliganz Pub for the new PubliQ LGBT night with DJ Phon3hom3.  Unfortunately we narrowly missed the drag show put on by some queens with unique style, as we’re told, however we were still able to hang out and chat with people before the night wound down.

For the closing party at FLASH Nightclub the Saturday evening, once again our community demonstrated, as some people describe, a talent for strongly supporting an LGBT business at a time when it’s too late to help sustain it.  But on the other hand for most of the community these days, bars and clubs are a place to go out and have fun, so it’s hard to impose such obligation.

FLASH was lined up down the block, and one could barely move inside.  The event was themed as a Glow party, and a body painting station was set up to help get people in the spirit.  Otherwise it was one final night of music, lights, and sweaty dancing.

Following this, the venue closed for renovations to rebrand themselves as E BAR, now an alternative bar.  After some vocal objection from Edmonton’s LGBT community on Facebook, the new management did put out a statement to say, "E-bar is a diverse space, and the staff excitedly welcomes everyone - every gender, sexual orientation, race, etc."  The new bar already held its grand opening the weekend of March 1st.

The big event this month, as you may already know, is the 31st annual Apollo Western Cup over Easter long weekend (March 28th to 30th).  This sporting weekend culminates to the much anticipated Western Cup Dance, which is a chance for the competitors and the general public to mingle and celebrate.  This dance brings over a thousand people together in a single ballroom, and this year they are featuring a particularly big name DJ.  So if this is your scene, you’d be sorry to miss it.

Helping the weekend to kick off is another big event that has become a tradition over the past several years.  The 3rd annual Backlot to Boyztown party is happening at Vinyl Retrolounge (the former Metro Boyztown space) on Wednesday, March 27th – so mark your calendars!

There are a number of events happening this month on the campuses of the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta – read the articles and check out the ads in this edition for more information.

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo is coming up in April, and as an official Media Sponsor of the event, we’re already lining up celebrity interviews.  This month we’ve interviewed Weird Al, Chris Sarandon, and Robert Patrick - and there are many more to come next month and the months to follow!