SAN FRANCISCO - Even a volatile economy and an international mood of fiscal restraint aren't enough to keep the gay adult industry away from San Francisco March 27-29. City-wide, bars, hotels, restaurants and other gay-friendly venues are gearing up for a weekend full of adult fun and frolic during the annual GAYVN Awards.
"The city is flooded with promotion about the event," said Tim Valenti, president of San Francisco-based video-on-demand provider NakedSword, which for the first time is co-presenting the awards with gay adult industry trade magazine GAYVN. "If you live in San Francisco, it's impossible not to know about the hundreds of stars coming into town. And the promotion is only getting started."
The gala awards ceremony - "the Academy Awards of Gay Porn" - will take place March 28 in the historic 1,500-seat Castro Theatre with comedian Margaret Cho, model Janice Dickinson and Ugly Betty actor Alec Mapa as co-hosts. Eleven bars and restaurants have signed on to host GAYVN-related promotions beginning the day before.
In keeping with the weekend's football theme, on March 27 NakedSword and several gay studios will co-host a first-of-its-kind, star-studded pub crawl in The Castro. The series of "tailgate parties" kicks off at 6 p.m. when 2009 NakedSwordsman Steve Cruz hosts an event benefitting his safe-sex-awareness campaign, How I Roll, at retailer Sui Generis. At 7 p.m. the evening will kick into high gear when studios and their stars take over seven other Castro venues: Falcon at Qbar, Raging Stallion at The Edge, Bel Ami at 440 Castro, Barrett Long's XXXAmateurHour.com at Moby Dick, Jet Set Men at The Mix, Dirty Boy Video at Twin Peaks and GayRealityPorn.com at The Midnight Sun. NakedSword will host an invite-only mixer for media and industry members at Jet bar to showcase AEBN's new RealTouch interactive technology.
Later in the evening, Hot House Entertainment will host an event at Lookout, TitanMen will take over Harvey's and EliteMale's Visconti Triplets will be featured at Lime.
For the survivors, the party promises to continue the next day with a bloody Mary brunch hosted by NakedSword's Tim and Roma. The event will benefit the Stop AIDS Project. Tickets are available by emailing [email protected].
Fortified by the brunch, attendees will be ready for the awards show, which begins at 7 p.m. Industry tickets are $50 each. General admission tickets are $95; VIP tickets are $195 and include preferred seating at the awards show and entrance to the after party. Complete ticket information is available at GAYVNAwards.avn.com/buy-tickets.
After the awards ceremony, NakedSword will host the Shameless GAYVN Afterparty at Wunderland. The electro/thrash/power-pop band Thunderheist will perform along with DJs Jamie J Sanchez and Sammy Jo. Tickets are available at TheSword.com/shameless.
"It'll be a night you'll never forget - or remember," Valenti said.
Although the original block of rooms at the Westin San Francisco Market Street sold out, the hotel added additional rooms for the event and extended the special room rate of $99 per night, plus tax. According to Grand Luxe Travel representative David Arias, the last day to make room reservations at that rate is March 23. Reservations may be made online at AwardShowHotel.com or by contacting Arias via email.
For complete information about the 2009 GAYVN Awards and the weekend of activities surrounding the ceremony, visit GAYVNAwards.com.
For information about NakedSword, visit NakedSword.com.
Sponsors of the 2009 GAYVN Awards include BelAmiOnline.com, BuddyProfits, CCBill, Cybersocket, Fleshjack, JustUsBoys, Manhunt, Temptation San Francisco, the Visconti Triplets and Vudu.
