April 1999

April 1st, Fiorello

The ever-popular 42nd Street Moon will be opening its 7th season with Fiorello at the New Conservatory Theater, 25 Van Ness Avenue, with this musical about New York City's beloved mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia. Including the songs: "Till Tomorrow", "The Very Next Man", "When Did I Fall in Love", and "I Love a Cop," this musical won a Pulitzer Prize, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award and six Tony Awards including Best Musical after its opening in 1959. MAX A&E has secured general admission tickets for the 8:00PM performance on Thursday, April 1st (No Foolin'!). Tickets are $19 for members and $22 for guests. For information about the show and an optional dinner at Schilling's before the performance, contact Bill at  626-5899. Note: Sold out, but call to be put on the waitlist.

April 3rd, Movie Club

Enjoy a matinee with your fellow MAX movie buffs. Call MAXParty Movie Critic, Ray at  364-6492 to see what's on the big screen

April 4th, Easter in the Parc

What are you hoping the Easter Bunny leaves you this year? Come to Stern Grove and find out as MAXparty is having an Easter picnic in the park, complete with a contest for the best bonnet and an Easter egg hunt with fabulous prizes. Pull those pastels out of the closet and spend the afternoon with us under the spectacular canopy of Eucalyptus and Pine. BYOPB (bring your own picnic basket ) Phil, no candleabras please! We will provide wine and beer and all the games and prizes. See you in the Stern Grove at 1:00 PM Sunday the 4th. Members $5, non-members $8. For reservations and all the info call the party-bunny Gary Hawthorne at  641.5906

April 7th, Fontina

In response to requests for more MAX events in the East Bay, A&E has scheduled a delightful dining experience at Fontina (1730 Shattuck Avenue between Virginia and Francisco) in Berkeley. The restaurant is about a 10 minute walk from the Berkeley BART station and street parking can usually be found nearby. We'll meet for cocktails at 6:45PM and begin dining at 7:15PM. A selection of antipasti will begin the meal followed by a choice of soup or salad. Your choice of entrees will include: veal parmigiana in a marinara sauce served with angel hair pasta, pollo dijon - fettucine with chicken, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, leeks, and basil in a cream dijon sauce, fettucine salmon - salmon chunks with mushrooms in a creamy basil sauce, or a vegetable lasagna. A choice of dessert is also included. The price for this meal including tax and tip is only $29 for members and $34 for guests. Wine and other beverages are available at additional cost. Reserve online from the Event List or call John at  587-4899.

April 10th, Gay Tour of SF

MAXFORUM has arranged with SFGayTours for a special Gay Tour of San Francisco for MAX members. We will embark in a mini van, hopefully pink, from the Detour at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 10. We will cruise The City covering the present and former gay hot spots of the Embarcadero, North Beach, Polk Street, South of Market (SoMa), and Valencia Street. The tour will return to The Castro about 1:00 PM, just in time for an optional lunch. Space is limited to the first 14 people to reserve. Please call Sountru (sounds like SOUND TRUE) @  648.7758 to reserve your spot. The price is $35 per person, ($40 for non-members). Send your check to the MAX address with GayTour on the memo line.

April 10th, Day of Beauty in Calistoga

Had a hard winter on the playing field? Are your pores pooped? Then sign up for MAX's Sports Therapy day in Calistoga on Saturday, April 10. We'll visit the famous Golden Haven hot springs spa for a day of mud and mineral baths, facials, massages and more - the choice is yours! Just pick the treatments you want, sit back and let the beauticians work their magic. When we're done, we'll gather for lunch in downtown Calistoga before heading home. Sports Therapy day is limited to 12 people. If you'd like more information including types of beauty treatments, price ranges and transportation, call Jonathan Swain at  440.4636.

April 11th, Bridge Club

Bridge is back. MAXparty is hosting a Bridge game the second Sunday of every month at the beautiful Oberon restaurant, 1450 Lombard. On April 11 at 1:30 PM we will be setting up the tables and dealing out the cards. Teams will form in accordance to your level. We are also sponsoring a full game orgy, Backgammon, Chess, Scrabble, Pictionary, you name it. Come have fun with us. Full bar is available. It is imperative that you call Jim Boey at  387.0378 so that he can arrange the teams.

April 17th, Tour of Filoli

Step back in time and visit this turn-of-the-century mansion situated on more than 600 acres in Woodside. We'll carpool to arrive at 10:15AM. MAX member and Filoli docent Doug Hayward will give us a guided tour of the elegant mansion designed by Willis Polk. Then we'll stroll through 16 acres of cultivated gardens that should be at their peak at this time of year. The tour will last approximately two hours and may be followed by an optional luncheon nearby. Tickets are $12 for members and $17 for guests. For information and reservations contact Dennis at  821-9363.

April 18th, New & Renewed Members Brunch

By invitation for new MAX members and renewing members who have recently rejoined. The mail will bring your personal invitation.

April 24th, Hearst Castle at San Simeon

Climb aboard a private motorcoach that will take you and a group of MAX men on a weekend of pure indulgence. Saturday brunch and drinks will be served on the trip down. Swimming, shopping and sightseeing awaits our arrival at the Cavalier Oceanfront Hotel in San Simeon. We will spend the evening as guests of William Randolph Hearst at his Cuesta Encantada. An evening tour of the castle will provide us with a glimpse of the fabled parties attended by Marion Davies and other Hollywood legends. The following morning we will experience this magnificent castle with a special daytime tour. Moustache Pete's will be our locale for a sumptuous Sunday Champagne brunch. We will relive the splendor of the weekend at Hearst Castle with a Randolph Hearst/Marion Davies look-alike contest as we toast to a weekend that no one will soon forget. The cost for this taste of vanished elegance is $150.00 (members) $175 (non-members). Call Mike Smith at  552.0236 to reserve your space.

April 25th, Misbehavin'

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus With Nell Carter The SF Gay Men's Chorus and the broadway and television star, Nell Carter will be misbehavin' to jazz and blues tunes from Duke Ellington to Fats Waller at 2 pm at the Masonic Auditorium. Join A&E for an optional brunch (only $25) at noon in the Nob Hill Restaurant of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Show tickets are $31 for members and $34 for guests. Call Hal Seip today at 775-7571 for reservations and information. Note: Sold out, but call to be put on the waitlist.

April 30th, 5th Friday TGIF at Gump's

Carole Cook Crashes MAX for Special TGIF  You've worshipped her from afar. Now's your chance to get up close and personal with Miss Glitter herself. The incomparable, the inimitable, the incorrigible MISS CAROLE COOK will grace you with her wit, wisdom and glare at the TGIF presented by MAX on Friday, April 30th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the venerable Gumps at 135 Post Street. A $20 admission gains you two hours of exclusive after-hours access to one of the finest shopping experiences in the Bay Area. You will be dazzled by Miss Carole and other surprise guests. You will enjoy wonderful nibbles from a selection of the best eateries in town. You'll have a chance to bid on exciting selected auction items to improve your home decor. And you will be provided unlimited ABSOLUT-ly fabulous free.....Yes, I did say FREE!....martinis, cocktails and soft drinks. All this bounty and less wear and tear on that designer wallet not having to open it every time you're thirsty. Who could ask for anything more? MAX leadership has again chosen to support the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, who will be the beneficiaries of this extraordinary TGIF. Miss Carole is a Broadway star, a movie star, and a hoofer with a heart of gold who has been performing at AIDS benefits in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco for over fifteen years. REAF continues last year's songwriter concert series with Help Is On The Way V: A SALUTE TO SONDHEIM set for August 2, 1999. Just circle the date and plan to be at Gumps on April 30th for a fabulous time.

April MAXReport Articles

Holidaze on Shasta

NOW HEAR THIS! It's first call to join the fleet! Join the navy this year on MAXs 10th Annual Labor Day Lake Shasta Houseboat Trip. Even though summer isn't here yet, it's time to start thinking about how to spend Labour Day. This year will be even more spectacular because it's our tenth anniversary. Act now to reserve your spot on MAXs signature event. Spaces are filling up fast, and the trip always sells out. Pay your cruise fees by May 25th and save big $! This party weekend starts on Friday September 3rd, and runs through Labor Day, September 6th. Trip fees include boat rental, the Commodore's Welcome Aboard cocktail party, the infamous pageants, water-skiing, all alcoholic beverages, breakfast each morning, and the time of your life. The price for the trip starts at $250 for members, $325 for guests. Luxury spots start at $300 per person. Limited Private Staterooms (double occupancy) are available for a higher price. To reserve your spot, send a check for $50.00 to the MAX address, and indicate if you want economy, luxury, or 1st class accommodations. If you have any questions, or want to help in planning this year's trip, call Commodore Joe Olivier @  585-5976. See you on the High Seas.

MAXSouth Heats Up

The February 12th MAXSouth Valentine's event drew 150-plus men to our new venue, Pedro's Bar and Cantina in Santa Clara. The fun Mexican atmosphere, enhanced by a terrific indoor-outdoor space, promises that Pedro's will be the place to be on the second Friday of each month. We invite everyone to join us for the April 9th TGIF. Pedro's is located on Hichborn Circle in Santa Clara, just off the Great America Parkway. The first non-TGIF MAXSouth program will be a May TASTE event at a local restaurant (the White Dove Cafe). For more information on MAXSouth's TGIF or the May TASTE event, please contact MAXSouth Coordinator Stuart McFaul @  941.6282. To get on the special MAXSouth e-mail list, sign up at the bottom of the MAXSouth page. Note: the May MAXSouth TGIF will be at the Sunnyvale Hilton. See the MAXSouth page for details.

Letterbox

MAX Member Stars in Arsenic and Old Lace

MAX member and local actor John Steen will be starring in Pacifica Spindrifts production of Arsenic and Old Lace. John has been seen in various stage, film and commercial productions. This production opens April 9th and runs through May 1st. Show dates are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM and one Sunday matinee, April 18th at 2:00 PM. Ticket prices are $15, with group discounts available. To reserve your tickets for this comedic farce please call  359-8002. Pacifica Spindrift Theatre is located at 1050 Crespi Drive, off Route 1, a 20-30 minute drive from The City.

ATTENTION MOVIE BUFFS

The MAX movie club is back in full swing. We are gathering a group every month to enjoy a Sunday Matinee and a meal afterwards. We just wrapped up the Oscars and now it's time to start seeking out choices for next year. Last month we saw "Relax... it's just sex". Who knows what Ray has up his sleeve this month. Contact MAXparty Movie Critic Ray Locke to get your tickets @  364.6492.

Report De Tahoe

Thirty-two hardy MAXers made the trek to Lake Tahoe last month, disregarding all reports of foul weather, for MAX's second annual Tahoe Takeover. After having a few drinks and getting to know our tripmates, a large group decided to try their luck at the Hyatt Casino. Funny how those that stayed the latest, lost the most and were the last ones to the slopes. We were greeted Saturday morning with cloudy skies and increasing winds. By the time we all made it to Northstar, we had ourselves a full-scale snow storm. Not to be put off by a little snow, 25 guys took to the slopes for some great fresh powder. After braving the Everest conditions for a few hours, most of the boys headed to GarWoods for some well deserved Apre' Ski. Saturday night saw everyone nestled in their condos as over 21 feet snow fell over the Lake. Sunday morning the true butchness level of MAX was shown as we dug out our cars, put on our tire chains and fled back to the Bay. Despite the inclement weather, everyone still had a great time, new friendships were made and even a little romance. Highlights "I think its blowing over" "They are from Louisiana, they don't know nothing about tire chains." "Yes Joe, Range Rovers can slide into snow banks." Juan Clavels 5 course meal for the homeless. "These cookies are great, my hippie Aunt Sunshine made them" "Why can't stretch pants make a comeback?"

East Bay Cooks It Up

On Saturday, Feb. 20, 12 MAXers convened at Mark Sifling's and Glen Shannon's home in El Cerrito to admire their new kitchen and learn some practical cooking tips from MAXer and chef Mark Cecil. The incredible menu included southern sytle chicken cordon-bleu, creamed spinach, carmelized veggies and really easy but totally foo-foo phillo-encrusted poached pears. And that doesn't even include the appetizers. Anyone can prepare meals like this -- Mark showed us that the effortless glamor is an easily-created illusion of great timing and good presentation. Big Secret - How many times have you tried to prepare something simple like browned chicken breasts only to end up crawling under a thick blanket of smoke in search of the fire extinguisher? This little trick will get you off the frequent caller list at the fire hall: put a little butter in your olive oil and it won't smoke up the place! Thanks to Mark and his no-nonsense presentation, at least 12 MAXers will have their dates begging for a second helping.

MAX Outreach Committee

Over a Decade of Sharing Since the inception of MAX, the Outreach Committee has helped define the nature and spirit of the organization. MAX was formed to help Bay Area gay men meet and socialize at a time when AIDS had dampened their spirits considerably. But amid the parties, trips, and other events, MAXers also wanted to provide support for AIDS and other gay related organizations, and even reach out to the community at large. In the true spirit of MAX, the Outreach Committee has planned fund raising around fun, entertaining events. Months with fifth Fridays have provided the opportunity to put on special TGIFs at locations besides The City Club. For many years, Jim Gabbert has generously donated his yacht to the committee for the fall "Day on the Bay" event to raise money for the San Francisco Schools sexual minority program. That wonderful annual Christmas event, the Green Room Party, which raises money for the wards of the San Francisco Youth Guidance Center, has been supported by members of the Outreach Committee for many years. Besides throwing great parties and touching the lives of people within and outside the organization, MAX and the Outreach Committee have raised a big bucks over the years for deserving San Francisco organizations. In the future, the Outreach Committee, while continuing to support deserving beneficiaries though our traditional events, would like to create and promote the endowment of a fund from which to further support deserving organizations. This would be a permanent legacy that would outlive individual committees and boards. Jim Acker

  May Events