Dust & Corruption Calendar for August 2012

OK, I'm a little late, but you were warned. August is here, with the blazing heat being tempered somewhat by earlier sunsets and longer nights. Those of us in school are staring down the barrel of classes, while working stiffs like me are slaving away, snatching glances at the outside when we can. But here's some fun things to keep you busy if you're not afraid of leaving your air-conditioned home....

8/8 - Summer Lovin. DC's Twisted Knickers troupe gives a summertime show with their usual flair. Featuring Beaujolais Nouveau, Tapitha Kix, Petra Precocious, and Milan sensation Miss Satine, and hosted by my dear friend Hot Todd Lincoln. Doors 8:30pm, $10. The Red Palace, 1212 H St NE, Washington, DC.

8/9 - Pinchbottom Pretencion! The Pinchbottom Burlesque crew perform at Coney Island, with Angie Pontani, Trixie Little & the Evil Hate Monkey, Jo Boobs, Dirty Martini, Johnny Porkpie, Tigger, and others. 9:00pm, Tix $12 and available here. 1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

8/10 - Surrealesque: An Erotic Cabaret Odyssey. Two-city tour, tonight hitting Baltimore's Ottobar. Baltimore's own Gilded Lily troupe is joined by Deanna Danger and singer Sabrina Chap. Doors 8pm, $15. The Ottobar, 2549 N Howard St, Baltimore, MD.

8/10 - Grab My Junk! Johnny Porkpie's burlesque game show comes to DC. Doors 8pm and 10pm, $10. The Red Palace, Washington, DC.

8/11 - Surrealesque: An Erotic Cabaret Odyssey. Tonight in Pittsburgh's The Rex. Doors at 8pm, $15. The Rex, 1602 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA.

8/11 - Peek-A-Boo Revue! Philadelphia's own award-winning burlesque troupe performs with Austin's own Coco Lectric. 9pm, ticket cost unknown. The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA.

8/11 - The SweetBread Jim's "Potluck" Spectacular! (Please don't bring food.) Free food, wine, and beer, live music by Star FK Radium and SweetBread Jim's, and burlesque, comedy, sideshow, and magic. 7pm, tix currently $25 (available here). St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St NW, Washington, DC.

8/12 - And the Word Was: TEASE. Interesting-sounding combination of burlesque, spoken word performances, and burlesque done to spoken word. With Gabriela Maze, Cwen L'Queer, Patsi Cake, Femme 6, and Baltimore spoken word star Petula Caesar. Doors 8pm, $10. Crazy Russian, 8209 Pulaski Hwy, Rt 40 E, Baltimore, MD.

8/15 - DCVariety Open Mic Night! Expect an assortment of performance oddities, hosted by my pal Mab Just Mab. Doors 8:30pm, $8. The Red Palace, 1212 H St NE, Washington, DC.

8/16 - Strip Club Time Machine by Sticky Buns Burlesque. My pals at Sticky Buns present their latest scripted, structured burlesque show (a rarity!). With Sticky Buns regulars Paco Fish, Marla Meringue, Shortstaxx, Nicolette LeFaye, and Sunny Sighed, being joined by Knoxville's own Salome Cabaret! 9pm, $15 advance, $20 at the door. The Ottobar, Baltimore.

8/17 - Bury-Q at the Venue: One Year Anniversary Show. A sampling of Virginia talent, hosted by my long-distance friend Ellie Quinn. 9pm, $15, reservations essential. The Venue on 35th, 631 35th St, Norfolk, VA.

8/17 - Taxidermy, Longing, and Beastly Allure. Illustrated lecture and book signing by Rachel Poliquin, author of The Breathless Zoo and Ravishing Beasts, on the history and fascination of taxidermy.8pm, $5. The Observatory, 543 Union St, Brooklyn, NY.

8/18 - Strip Club Time Machine! Sticky Buns and Salome Cabaret reprise their show in DC. 9:30pm, $10 advance, $15 at the door. The Red Palace, Washington, DC.

8/18 - The Fall of the American Movie Palace. Illustrated lecture by photographer Matt Lambros, on the decline of lavish American movie theaters. 7:30pm, $10, advance tix available here. The Observatory, Brooklyn, NY.

8/22 - Monster Movie Double Feature! Not actually movies, but burlesque and (I think) magic with a classic monster-movie theme. With Black Tassel Boo-lesque's Mourna Handful and Eyrie Twilight, and also with Starlet Scarlet, Sally the Cinch, and Buster Britches. 8:30pm, $10. The Red Palace, Washington DC. This sounds like a must, folks.

8/23 - Unhappy Hour - Hop-Frog! Check out a new exhibit based on the Poe story, along with live music, a dramatic reading, free munchies and a cash bar. 6pm to 9pm, free but donations of $5 encouraged. The Poe Museum, 1914-16 E Main St, Richmond, VA.

8/30 - Martian Space Oddities. Illustrated lecture by author Andrew Kessler about the exploration of Mars, robotics, and places on our own Earth that mimic the Martian surface. 7:30pm, $12, advance tix available here. The Observatory, Brooklyn, NY.

8/31 - My birthday. I'll be 47. OLD.

...wow, that's actually a lot. Hope anyone in these cities is reading and can give a report....