January 29-February 4, 2004

mixpicks

Blue Ball 2004: Ascension

The Philly-born Blue Ball weekend, now at age 14, has moved from satisfying area alterna-lifestylers to a hype machine of national proportions, with coast-to-coast ads and parties focused on this super bowl of gay charitable concern and revelry. Maybe its "Ascension" theme is a touch played out (the winged muscle boy is so December HBO). But its event-ology is on. Hooked into the newly established Sapphire Fund's support systems for Philly's GLBT communities and HIV/AIDS research, education, prevention and treatment, BB14 benefits locals like the William Way Community Center, MANNA and the Attic Youth Center. Its blue-toned parties, featuring DJs and music makers of local background (Reenie Kane, Maria V) and national renown (Star 69 Records' Hector Fonseca and Angelo Kortez), kick it in familiar venues (Bump, 2-4 and Shampoo) and newer ones, as the National Constitution Center hosts Ascension's main event with DJs Abel and Paulo.

As always, the Blue Redo finale, thrown every year since 1996 by Blue Galz Dirk Allen, Dave Rumsey and Glenn Sykes with DJ Susan Morabito, will be an elaborate affair, this year featuring a mockumentary called One Last Tango. No matter who you are or what your color is, this weekend is one to get blue.

Blue Ball 2004: Ascension, Thu.-Sun., Jan. 29-Feb 1; for events, venues, ticket prices and all other information, go to www.blueballphilly.com or call 267-514-2088.

—A.D. Amorosi

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