THE MOVE: Plan Accordingly - July 2021

The Move is returning to normal with bountiful OFFline gatherings, plenty of opportunities to mingle with new and old friends and frenemies, and return home with fresh memories — not the coronavirus! Today’s modern moves are to be consumed at your own risk, preferably once twice-vaxxed.

The Music Room may be a blessed memory, but its legacy lives on.

Cute plague trends to keep on a soon-to-be post-pandemic planet: Sanitizer everywhere; six feet of personal space; masks can be fashun, too; stay cashless; delivery of everything; and WFH. Plus, let’s thank QR codes for making the comeback of the century — bc menus can be gross!

All @handles mentioned are for Instagram, bc Twitter is the Devil. Read on for the tea, grateful pandemic-surviving lil’ Bithkitz.

SATURDAY, JULY 3

Drunk + Lucky: IndepenDANCE Edition — The Captains of Revelry are back at it again! Join us this 4th of July Eve (AKA JULY 3rd) as we take over El Tesoro once more and fill the open-air courtyard with great tunes, the smells of amazing food, and all of your smiling faces!” For those who don’t know, our Captains driving this ship are none other than Keiran James Neely and Mike LeSage, former owners of the now RIP’d Music Room underground dance club. DJ Keiran, Ree De La Vega, and Hawaiian DJ, Wahine, will spin while you nosh on a five-course meal (vegan options available) with cocktails, and schlep off the crusty COVID vibes with dance.

The somewhat recently reincarnated El Tesoro has an 8,500-square-foot patio with activities and fire pits, and their usual menu is to die. OG Atlantans might remember the original El Tesoro many moons ago that was located in EAV. The resurgence location is located in the Edgewood neighborhood, not to be confused with Edgewood Avenue, where The Music Room was located pre-pandemic.

5-10 p.m., El Tesoro, 1374 Arkwright Place S.E. 470-440-5502. Tickets $50. @captainsofrevelry  @ElTesoroATL  @djkeiran  @mikelastrange  @reedelavega

FRIDAY, JULY 9

ICONS: A Celebration of Black Legends! — Black Icons. Black Legends. Black Stars. They have crafted pop culture, art, and so much more. And it’s time they get their due!” — Queen Legend, TAYLOR ALXNDR, the host and curator of this marvelous, all-ages soiree.

An all-Black cast including Canzara SZN, Ella/saurus/REX, JayBella Bankz, Miss He, Pryncess Carter, Syraja, SZN ALXNDR, and TAYLOR ALXNDR, will strut in celebration, remembering why we love these divas and icons.

Brought to us by TAYLOR ALXNDR and the House of ALXNDR, an ATL-based drag house and events hub bringing inventive, inclusive, drag-infused events to the city.

8 p.m. Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave. N.W. 404-448-2755. Tickets $5 / $7 / $12. All Ages @houseofAlxndr  @outfronttheatre

SATURDAY, JULY 10

United We Drag — An indoor Midtown matinee? Let’s! Wussy Mag presents United We Drag, a benefit show for Georgia Equality with 50 percent of all ticket sales being donated. In their own words, “Georgia Equality, Inc., works year-round to pass pro-equality legislation and elect fair-minded elected officials. Through the Equality Foundation of Georgia, we conduct voter registration and educational activities, provide information to decision makers, and work to organize and mobilize LGBT residents and allies to advance equality in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state.”

Atlanta performers we love, including Ella/saurus/REX, Taejah Thomas, Taylor ALXNDR, Mr. Elle Aye, Geneva Blaus, and music by Ree De La Vega. The headliner is Candis Cayne, a queen of NYC drag clubs in the ’90s, who went on to become the first transgender actress to play a recurring transgender character on primetime TV for her role in Dirty Sexy Money. Google her, you’ll recognize that gorgeous mug fo sho.

Take your sweetie out for a good cause, or find a consenting sweetie at the show. Laughter, drinks, and Gays, guaranteed. Meet-and-greet tickets available!

2 p.m.-6 p.m. My Sister’s Room, 84 12th St. N.E. 678-705-4585. Tickets from $25. All Ages @WussyMag  @mysistersroom_msr  @gaequality wussymag.com/ georgiaequality.org/

SUNDAY, JULY 11

Chaka Khan Hacienda — NYC’s legendary Eli Escobar brings his expertise to July 11’s installment of Chaka Khan Hacienda at 8ARM. If you don’t know, Escobar grew up in 1980s New York City, and, thriving on hip-hop and his first set of turntables, made a name for himself in the ’90s NYC club scene. Some folx like his flavor so much, they collabed with him. Perhaps you’ve heard of some of them: Britney Spears, Lana Del Rey, Bag Raiders, Jessica 6, Dirty Vegas, Ali Love, Diplo, M.I.A., Chromeo, Holy Ghost!, Pase Rock.

This party is always free. This party is always on Sundays. This party is on the BeltLine. Expect a colorful, sweaty crowd.

5-10 p.m. Every Sunday now through Labor Day. 8Arm, 710 Ponce De Leon Ave. N.E. Free All Ages @ChakaKhanHacienda  @eliescobarnyc @ReeDeLaVega  @8armatl

SATURDAY, JULY 24

The Masquerade presents:  JAPANESE BREAKFAST with Mannequin Pussy — Underground ATL is the spot, with indie dream pop-rock band Japanese Breakfast performing their latest album, which celebrates the passing of time. Fitting pre-pandemic. Plus, it’s INSIDE Heaven at the Masquerade. Bc indoor venues are officially re-opened.

“Jubilee is an album about processing life and love in the quest for happiness, and how that process sometimes requires us to step outside of ourselves.” — Korean-American musician, director, author, and Japanese Breakfast creator, Michelle Zauner.

Philadelphia punk band, Mannequin Pussy, opens, performing songs from their album, Patience, recorded during the pandemic, and their new EP, Perfect. All who attend will be auto do-gooders, bc $.50 from every ticket will be donated to Girls Rock Camp, a music camp for kids who identify as female.

Doors 7 p.m. Heaven at The Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama St. 404-577-8178. Tickets from $25.50. All Ages The Masquerade  @jbrekkie  @mannequinpussy

SUNDAY, JULY 25

Bottom’s Up! Drag Brunch with Crystal Methyd — Not to be confused with the famous electronic Vegas band, Crystal Method. RuPaul Drag Race star Crystal Methyd says, “I loved the name ‘Crystal.’ Whenever I first started I was just gonna pick Crystal cause I like the name, and it was kinda like witchy, and my friend was actually the one who gave me the idea for ‘Methyd’ and I was like I’ll spell it with a ‘y’ so it’s more womanly.” — Crystal Methyd

City Winery is the air-conditioned brunch spot of choice for Wussy Mag’s Bottom’s Up! Drag Brunch extravaganza. If you’ve been living under a rock, or just aren’t from around here, City Winery Atlanta is located at Ponce City Market, easily accessible by the BeltLine. Brunch and brag about how it’s not just the wine that’s fine at this party.

Time TBD, City Winery Atlanta, Ponce City Market, 650 North Ave. N.E. Tickets TBD @wussymag  @crystalmethyd   @citywineryatl

SUNDAY, JULY 25

Bien Vegano Market is back! From the folx who brought you My Abuela’s Food and Vegan X ATL, this quarterly market is international, and all vegan. Popping up at Second Self brewery on the Westside, it’s the perfect place to grab a PETA-approved meal, enjoy a side of good tunes, connect with the community, and get an always-needed dose of culture. We hope the popularity of these markets will expand the vegan menus at more brick-and-mortar restaurants in Atlanta.

There may be lines, but the wait is always worth it. Future Bien Vegano markets happening in September and December. This is a pet- and kid-friendly event.

12-5 p.m. Second Self Beer Co., 1317 Logan Circle N.W. 678-916-8035. Free, All ages @secondselfbeer  @bienveganoatl  @veganxatl

TUESDAY, JULY 27

King Crimson — The Fox Theatre (like other venues in Georgia) is finally allowed to reopen and welcome us back with her big, glorious embrace, even if only at 50 percent capacity. Drum roll please … the first show to reopen the theater is King Crimson, straight from 1960s London, but with the 21st century always on the band’s collective mind!. Legendary comes to mind. Progressive rock is too generic a description, and chances are, you’re already a fan. If not, give them a spin on the streaming service of your choice to understand. Internet required.

Special guests in the opening slot is The California Guitar Trio. We can expect they will sound like a trio of guitarists from Cali. Tickets aren’t cheap at the Fox, but if you’ve been longing for the energy that only comes from seeing a show inside Atlanta’s most iconic venue, we hope you didn’t spend all of 2020’s concert cash on renovations — or plants.

This is the only Fox show that will be limited capacity. All others listed on the the rest of the Fox Theatre’s 2021 lineup will be full capacity. How does fifty percent less people for this show work? The box office will adjust seating as seats are sold to keep y’all socially distant.

7:30 p.m. The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., 855-285-8499. Tickets from $75. All Ages @thefoxtheatre  @kingcrimsonofficial  —CL—