Saturday’s forecast: Mostly sunny. High of 93 degrees. 847% humidity.

Ah, Dallas summers. The only way to survive them is hanging out by a pool with an icy cold cocktail while wearing as little as possible. But what if you could do all that and help further equality for the LGBT community?

It’s all possible this Saturday at The House luxury high-rise on Victory Avenue as GLAAD presents a spectacular seasonal kick-off party, GLAAD It’s Summer!

One price gets you delicious cocktails from Ketel One, as well as valet parking and a sexy summer runway fashion show by CA-RIO-CA.

It’s a great way to learn more about the fantastic work that GLAAD does every day. Accompanied by men in skimpy swimsuits.

Being gay rocks.

GLAAD It’s Summer
Saturday, June 22, 2013
2:00 ‐ 6:00pm
$50 all-inclusive
The House
2200 Victory Avenue, Dallas
RSVP today at www.glaad.org

Songs for a New World. It’s not just the name of Christopher Columbus’ mix tape from 1492. It’s also Uptown Players’ latest musical event.

Written by Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, this musical explores those moments in life where we must make a decision on how best to survive emotionally, physically, or both. Things can be going great and then an unexpected event can turn reality upside-down. How we choose to approach those challenges and move forward is what truly defines our character.

Uplifting and filled with soaring melodies, Songs for a New World stars Feleceia Benton, Jonathan Bragg, John Campione, Peter DiCesare, Danielle Estes, Walter Lee, Laura Lites and Sara Shelby-Martin, with direction by the fab Coy Covington and Kevin Gunter.

It’s a great way to beat the heat, and perhaps gain a new perspective on how to handle life’s most unpredictable moments.

Like when the bar runs out of vodka.

Songs for a New World
June 21-July 7
Tickets: $30-$40
www.uptwonplayers.org

Gay List Daily Giveaway:
Fill out the form below by Wednesday, June 19 at 11:59 p.m. for your chance to win tickets to an upcoming performance. Please include your phone number for easy contact. Winners selected at random.

For more than 30 years (longer than we’ve been alive!), the Turtle Creek Chorale has thrilled audiences worldwide with their sublime voices. Known for wildly entertaining performances that blend humor and overwhelming creativity, the chorale has also been known to move people deeply with the beauty of their music.

This Thursday, they’ll be joined by legendary singer and five-time Grammy Award Winner Sandi Patty for a night of Inspiration & Hope at the stunning Meyerson Symphony Center.

It’s an evening of music that celebrates the power of one and the majesty of many as she performs a variety of popular numbers joined by a chorus of 200 incredible singers.

So prepare yourself for one truly moving religious experience.

We’re pretty sure you could use one.

Turtle Creek Chorale and Sandi Patty
Inspiration & Hope
Thursday, June 20, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$54
www.turtlecreek.org

Ready for a bum lift, boob job or tummy tuck in about 80 minutes?

It’s entirely possible thanks to a series of revolutionary new spa treatments at the Spa at Equinox Highland Park.

Incorporating highly sought-after Rodial products from the UK, each treatment is designed to work magic in a short period of time. And in the most relaxing way possible.

There’s a Sculpt Facial with Rodial Dragon’s Blood line that hydrates, lifts, contours and firms the skin. The Freeze Facial utilizes the Snake Venom line and targets expression lines for a more wrinkle-free appearance. And the Sting Facial uses the Bee Venom line to provide anti-aging properties while lifting, plumping and brightening the skin.

Or opt for the Extreme Makeover, a full body wrap that helps rid the body of toxins (we’ve already signed up for six in a row). But it also helps tone, firm and contour the body.

Results are apparent with a single treatment, but of course, the more regularly you get a service, the more dramatic the final outcome. Products are available for at-home rituals, too.

Best of all, any spa treatment at Equinox includes use of the club for the day, so you can get even more results than a spa treatment alone.

Just remember to bend with your knees.

Rodial Treatments
$225/each
The Spa at Equinox Highland Park
Call (214) 443-9009 to book.
www.equinox.com

Straight men: typically afraid of color.

Gay men: rainbow-loving, glitter-spreading, unicorn-riding fashion icons unafraid of the most vibrant hues and avant-garde styles.

Sure, both statements are broad stereotypes, but in our experience they’re pretty accurate.

But now there’s a new place where men of all stripes can find exceptional clothing that embraces color in all its wonderful complexity.

Introducing the Edo Popken boutique, now open in the Dallas Design District.

Known as a designer with a flair for wearable art and an uncanny attention to detail, each of the limited edition dress shirts are hand-numbered in a series of only 111 made. So the chances of showing up at a big gay party in the same shirt as your arch-rival are far less likely than our H&M-shopping counterparts.

Every piece in the high-end line features a carefully selected color palette that allows for easy interchanging and effortless ensemble coordination. Even colors that may sound like an odd combo somehow miraculously work together thanks to his unique vision.

The Swiss company’s been around for more than 125 years and as its 4th generation leader, Popken proudly declares, “Life is short – Dress up for it!”

And please, leave the flip-flops at home.

Edo Popken
Dallas Design District
1523 Dragon Streeet
(214) 749-0200
www.edopopken.com

We like things spicy. How else could you explain our nightstand filled with Kenny G CDs, condoms and buffalo wing sauce?

But we like to eat fiery foods, too.

That’s why there’s smoke coming out of our excited ears over Cita’s Salsa, a small local brand we discovered last weekend at the White Rock Local Market.

Available in three ultra-fresh varieties (Garden Green, Mango-Piña and Red Rage), each recipe is so chock full of all-natural, preservative-free, farm-harvested goodness that the jars only last about two weeks.

Yet we defy you to keep one open jar more than a day.

Cita’s Salsa
$7.35/16 ounces
Available at these fine stores and at www.artizone.com
www.citassalsa.com

Gay Pride Month is in full swing (or in our case, full swish).

And even though we’re proud to be gay 365 days a year (366 on the occurrence of a leap situation), it’s always fun to have an abundance of queer crammed into a shorter time frame.

This Thursday, celebrate Pride with a unique and rare opportunity to view a brand-new HBO special, THE OUT LIST, at the Dallas premiere. Not only is it two weeks before the rest of the world can view it, this is part of a private party hosted by Black Tie Dinner.

But don’t worry, we’ve got exclusive passes for a few of you to attend the reception, screening and post-film discussion.

What you’ll see on-screen is interviews with several prominent LGBT people, including actor Neil Patrick Harris, comedian Wanda Sykes (above), athlete Wade Davis, musician Jake Shears and local Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who will also be in attendance. (So be on your best behavior. She always travels with handcuffs, loaded gun and freeze ray. At least in our Super-Lupe comic book fantasy, she does.)

The director, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders will also be on hand to answer your questions, as well as two of the producers, Catherine Pino and Ingrid Duran.

Plus, attending this event with the Table Captains and sponsors of Black Tie Dinner is a fab way to learn more about the incredible work this organization does year after year to make sure we have even more reasons to be proud of our L, G, B or T status.

So come out, be out and celebrate.

HBO’s THE OUT LIST
Thursday, June 13
6:00 p.m. Pre-reception; 7:00 p.m. Screening; 8:00 p.m. Discussion
Angelika Film Center
5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas
www.blacktie.org
www.hbo.com 

The Out List: Wanda Sykes
Credit: Portrait (c) Timothy Greenfield-Sanders/ Courtesy of HBO

Gay List Daily Giveaway:
Enter below for your chance to receive a pair of passes to Thursday’s exclusive event. PHONE NUMBER must be included so we can verify your attendance if your name is chosen. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. today, June 10 to qualify. Winners will be notified Tuesday.

Pitchy doesn’t begin to describe our singing voice. We’re so tone deaf that even sign language as obvious as the elaborate gestures in YMCA makes no sense to us.

That’s why we’ve always been impressed when we hear someone with genuine vocal talent. And we’re lucky enough to have a big gay singing competition that celebrates those with true talent.

It’s time for the annual Voice of Pride competition and the stakes are bigger than ever. This year, the winning solo performer wins a not-too-shabby $3500 and two round-trip airline tickets to a luxury destination. It’s not American Idol money, but pretty incredible for a local singing contest.

It all starts this weekend at The Mining Company and any member of the LGBT community can enter. If you’ve got vocal chops that rival those of Adele, Lea Michelle or a severely Auto-Tuned Madonna, this is your chance for local fame and temporary fortune.

It’s your golden opportunity to shine bright like a diamond, or sit in the audience and be thoroughly entertained as the competition heats up all summer long.

Ryan Seacrest, eat your heart out.

2013 Voice of Pride
June 9-August 11
Full schedule here
Entry form here
www.dallastavernguild.org

It hasn’t even hit 100 degrees yet and we’re already sweating our @∂#$ off. And our ¡&&@(!$.

So imagine what it’s like to have a body covered in fur? (To all our bear friends, we feel your pain.)

Treat your four-legged furry beasts to a day of fun in the sun before it gets too crazy hot.  It’s all part of the 19th Annual Dog Day Afternoon benefiting Operation Kindness, taking place this Saturday.

It pays to get there early, too.

The first 40 dogs will receive free microchipping. But you’ll also want to get in line for the free pet psychic who can tap into everything your dog’s thinking, why he’s so fascinated with butts and possibly which famous world leader, milkmaid or pineapple farmer he was in a past life. (That may sound specific, but our Rat Terrier, above, owned a plantation in Hawaii back in 1892.)

There will also be goodie bags, canine competitions, food trucks, a pooch kissing booth and plenty of adorable, adoptable animals that just need some love, food, water and apparently the use of your entire king-size bed as their own.

Plus, if your doggie’s photogenic, he or she has the opportunity to be the face of Dog Day Afternoon 2014 in the role of honorary chairdog.

Ruff life, indeed.

Dog Day Afternoon
Saturday, June 8
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Flag Pole Hill Park at White Rock Lake
www.operationkindness.org

Nobody ever hopped out of a swimming pool and declared, “Let’s go get a big plate of mashed potatoes covered with fried chicken, cheese and ladles of gravy, served with a side of biscuits and cornbread and a 66-ounce Dr Pepper!”

At least nobody we know. That’s because summer living is all about wearing less, staying cool and eating light.

And there are few places on the planet where a person can eat lighter and healthier than Seasons 52. Their new spring and soon-to-roll-out summer menus feature the same 475-calorie-or-less bragging rights per dish, but fresh, seasonal harvests are given even more praise in every bite.

Think wild Alaskan Copper River salmon (above) with asparagus, corn salad, crispy bacon, fingerling potatoes and dill sauce. Or Ahi tuna tartare served with wasabi-avocado mousse, mango chutney and curry spiced crisps. Perhaps something all-veggie, including fresh tomato and Hass avocado salad served over organic arugula and topped with balsamic glaze.

Even the cocktails are making a warm-weather splash with refreshers like the strawberry-coconut skinny martini, made with pineapple coconut water, strawberry-infused Prairie Organic Vodka and agave nectar.

With so many light and delectable options, we know we can always hit Seasons 52, stuff our faces and walk away without remorse.

Unlike those poor chicken bowl people.
 
Seasons 52
Dallas and Plano
www.seasons52.com