Valentine's Day weekend SF Bay Area burlesque shows 2009

This is one of the more active weekends in terms of burlesque shows, especially on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Hehe.

Things start off tonight at 7:30pm with the Red Hots Burlesque School of Shimmy Showcase at El Rio in San Francisco. See some of Dottie Lux's students perform for you, some making their public debut!

The fun continues on Valentine's Day night with Spookshow-A-Go-Go at Kimo's in SF. Dubbed the Valentine's Day Massacre, join Kitten on the Keys, filmmakers Val Killmore and Shadow Circus Theatre, Dottie Lux, Lady Satan, Miss Honey Penny, Ruby White, and the Can Canibals and more for an evening of romantic love, lust, and goriness. Ah...isn't that just what true love is like?

On Sunday, there's a plethora of choices. First up is the Spirit of Burlesque workshop with Isis Starr at Bombshell Betty's studio. In this never-before-presented workshop, Isis Starr, San Francisco's own Living Legend of Burlesque, presents her unique take on burlesque, covering such topics as finding your Burlesque Queen within and Mystical Burlesque, role playing, stage awareness, mucicality, body positions and lines, stage makeup and costuming, and more! For more information and to sign up, please go to http://www.bombshellbetty.net/isisstarr.html.

Later on Sunday, there are three other shows. First up is Kitten on the Keys' benefit for her one woman show at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory in SF at 6:30pm. She's lined up some of the best burlesque performers in the area, including legendary Satan's Angel, the Scenic Sisters, Dottie Lux, the Diamond Daggers, Kellita, Lady Satan, and so much more!

Also on Sunday is This IS Your Mom's Burlesque presented by Kiss Que C'est and Miss Honey Penny at Amnesia Bar in SF at 7pm. Bring you mom and get a discount! Featuring the ladies of Kiss Que C'est, Miss Honey Penny, Ruby White, Lady Satan, Bunny Pistol, sASSy Hotbuns, and more!

Lastly, across the Bay in Oakland, is Debauchery at the White Horse Inn. The show begins at 8pm and will benefit the Transgender Law Center.

Whew! I need a rest just thinking of all the V-day weekend sights and sounds! Think I'll go and watch the rain fall. Enjoy everybody!

SF Bay Area burlesque for the week of February 9, 2009

It's Valentine's Day week, and there's a whole lotta shows going on, including one on V-Day itself! So grab your sweetie and head out to a burlesque show and celebrate love and lust the underground, edgy and downright fun San Francisco way!

• Monday, February 9, 2009: Uptown Hubba Hubba at the Uptown in Oakland, 1928 Telegraph Avenue. Heat up your wintry Monday evening with Comrade Tang, Monifa, Francine Dead, sASSy Hotbuns, Chi Chis del Fuego, Virginia Slim, Gretl von BoomBoom! And enjoy the musical talents of The Riff Ditties Orchestra! Doors at 9pm, show at 10ish. $5, 21+ w/ID.
• Wednesday, February 12: Barbary Coast Burlesque at Annie's Social Club in San Francisco. 917 Folsom Street. Join Bunny Pistol and host Mona Lott as they welcome performers Delilah, sASSy Hotbuns, Virgina Slim, Lily Le Rouge, Alotta Boutte, and Miss Mae Western for a night of LOVE, and everything it brings you. Show at 8pm. $5, 21+ w/ID.
• Thursday, February 13: Little Minsky's at Club Deluxe in SF. 1511 Haight Street. Little Minsky's is brought to you by Douglas Good (of Cabaret Verdalet), The Flying Fox (burlesque glamour girl) and a few shady characters (we dare not name). Doors at 9pm, show at 10ish. $5, 21+ w/ID.
• Also Thursday: Thrillville at Cerritos Speakeasy Theater in El Cerrito. Join Will the Thrill and Monica Tiki Goddess for a night of zombies and special musical guest, Kitten on the Keys at THRILLVILLE'S VOODOO VALENTINE'S SHOW! Plus see the film, "SUGAR HILL AND HER ZOMBIE HIT MEN" live from the 70s! Show at 9:15pm. $9, 18+.
• And, also Thursday: Shindig 69 at The Rickshaw Stop in SF. Help celebrate Baby Doe's birthday with the Devil-Ettes, and support the fight against breast cancer, too! Featuring the rockin' tunes of The Cement Gardens (members of The Sermon), DJss Cali Kid (Bardot A Go Go), Sergio Iglesias (Teenage Dance Craze), Otto von Stroheim (Tiki Oasis) Go Go sweethearts The Devil-Ettes, Kitten on the Keys, Kiki Bomb, Kellita, The Riff Ditties Orchestra, Alpenhorn and MUCH MORE! Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9. $10, 21+ w/ID.
• Friday, February 13: Red Hots Burlesque at El Rio in San Francisco, 3158 Mission Street. Red Hots Burlesque School of Shimmy Showcase! Featuring debuts by Kitty von Quimm! Taquine! Honey Monroe! Mrs.Jones! Charlie Angel! Show at 7:30pm. $5-10 sliding scale, 21+ w/ID.
• Saturday, February 14: Spookshow-A-Go-Go: Valentine's Day Massacre at Kimo's in SF, 1351 Polk Street. Gore gore go-go, brutal burlesque, vicious variety, fiendish film and torturous tunes. How romantic! Featuring go-go dancing by Ruby White and Miss Honey Penny to tunes spun by DJ Miz Margo. Also featuring cabaret and burlesque acts Kitten on the Keys, Dottie Lux, Lady Satan, and the Can Can Cannibals! And more! Doors at 9pm, show at 10. $10, 21+ w/ID. See the SFBR special 2-for-1 promo in the Spookshow post!
• Sunday, February 15: The Spirit of Burlesque with Isis Starr at Bombshell Betty Studios in SF, 715 Bryant Street Suite 102. In this never-before-presented workshop, Isis Starr, San Francisco's own Living Legend of Burlesque, presents her unique take on burlesque, covering such topics as finding your Burlesque Queen within and Mystical Burlesque, role playing, stage awareness, mucicality, body positions and lines, stage makeup and costuming, and more! 3 to 5pm. $30 general, $25 Bombshell Betty members.
• Also Sunday: Kitten on the Keys Benefit at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory in SF, 1519 Mission Street. Benefitting Kitten's one woman show, "Does This Piano Make My Ass Look Big?" join Kitten and her very special guest, legendary burlesque star Satan's Angel! Also featuring the Scenic Sisters, Vinsantos, Lady Monster, Diamond Daggers, Honey Lawless, Dottie Lux, Mr. Tinkler, Lady Satan, SF Boylesque, Alotta Boutte, Madam Chartreuse, Kellita, and more! Silent auction of photo shoots, Catherine d'Lish's Fabulous Feathers, and more! 6:30 to 9:30pm. $15 sliding scale.
• And, also Sunday: This IS Your Mom's Burlesque at Amnesia Bar in SF, 853 Valencia Street. Kiss Que C'est and Honey Penny present a burlesque show for our moms and yours! Performances by 3 Sisters Bellydance! Miss Mae Western! Honey Penny! Ruby White! Pin Key Lee! Lady Satan! Bunny Pistol! Juicy D.Light! Buzz B! sASSy Hotbuns! Lucy Bottoms! Music by the Mighty Slim Pickins! 7pm. $10 or $8 if you bring your mum, 21+ w/ID.
• And, finally on Sunday: Debauchery at the White Horse Inn in Oakland, 6555 Telegraph Avenue. A stripclub for queers of all genders! Featuring an enticing selection of salaciously smoldering strippers! Doors at 7pm, show at 8. $5 to $15, 21+ w/ID.

Wow! A whole lotta shows this week! Took me two days to compile this list! :-P

As always, for more information, please check the calendar above. And if you have a burlesque show or information about a show you would like to add to the calendar, please email me at sfbr AT gmx DOT com.

Keeping up with Kitten on the Keys

When my friend Josie Starre first started taking me to burlesque shows early in 2006, one of the first performers I noticed was this sexy redhead who played her piano (big or small) with much talent, sass, and wit. Of course, the redhead was our very own Kitten on the Keys!

During the almost three years since, I've seen her play at piano bars, anniversary parties for theaters, various burlesque shows such as Little Minsky's, and I've seen her host Tease-O-Rama. Every single time, I've noticed the members of the audience tapping their toes with a smile on their faces.

And now, she's busier than ever, so you'll have even more chances to see her! I'll list just some of the places where she'll be performing in the upcoming weeks:

• Friday, January 30: Pre Code Follies at the Niles Essany Silent Film Theater, 37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont. Betty Boop and MUCH MORE! 8:30pm. Suggested donation $9. http://www.nilesfilmmuseum.org/
• Thursday, February 5: Pin It Up, Babycakes at 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna Street, San Francisco. 6pm to 11. $5 after 9pm, 21+ w/ID. http://www.pinitupbabycakes.com/
• Thursday, February 12: Thrillville at Cerritos Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito. 9:15pm. $9, 18+. http://www.thrillville.net
• Thursday, February 12: Shindig 69 at The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, San Francisco. Yes, Kitten will be at Thrillville first, then scoot over to The Rickshaw Stop for Baby Doe's B-Day Party! Doors 8:30pm, show at 9. $10, 21+ w/ID. http://www.devilettes.com/
• Saturday, February 14: Spookshow A-Go-Go: Valentines Day Massacre at Kimo's, 1361 Polk Street, San Francisco. Doors 9pm, show at 10. $10, 21+ w/ID. http://www.myspace.com/spookshowagogo
• Sunday, February 15: Kitten on the Keys Show Benefit at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory, 1519 Mission Street, San Francisco. 6:30 to 9:30, $15, sliding scale. http://www.suzanneramsey.net/doesthispiano.html
• Thursday, February 26: Kitten on the Keys at the Rite Spot Cafe, 2099 Folsom Street, San Francisco. 8:30pm to 10:30. Free. 21+. http://www.ritespotcafe.net/home.html
• March 26-28, April 2-4: Does This Piano Make My Butt Look Big? Kitten's one woman show at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory, 1519 Mission Street, San Francisco. $15 sliding scale. http://www.suzanneramsey.net/doesthispiano.html
  

These are just some of the places where you'll be able to catch her. I'll post more soon! Her calendar is available on her website at www.kittymusic.com.

After her one woman show, Kitten will be traveling around the world performing her magic, so catch her live before she leaves for a few months!