Weather transforms “Remember When….” event planned for Saturday
to commemorate Cliff’s Variety 75th Anniversary on Castro Street
“Awards & Mimosas” Event in Toad Hall Tavern: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Tea Dance becomes Hurricane Party Inside Cliff’s Variety: 2pm – 6pm
Event Benefits AIDS Emergency Fund, Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy & Rainbow Honor Walk
Mike Smith, AIDS Emergency Fund: (415) 558-6999 x7 /
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David Perry, Rainbow Honor Walk: (415) 676-7007 /
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3 June 2011 – San Francisco, CA: For the first time since 1967, San Francisco is about to get a major storm in June. Who would have guessed that The Castro Tea Dance on Saturday from 2pm to 6pm in the parking lot of the Castro Theater could possibly be rained out in June? The event, designed to celebrate Cliff’s 75 years of business in the Castro was originally planned a as re-enactment of Sylvester’s spontaneous Castro block parties of the late 1970s and to be a benefit for AIDS Emergency Fund, Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the Rainbow Honor Walk.
Not ones to let a bit of bad weather rain on their parade, Cliff’s has moved the event into the store and renamed it the Sylvester-Era Disco Hurricane Party. “The DJ booth will be set up in the second floor windows overlooking the interior of the store,” said Terry Asten Bennet, whose family has owned Cliff’s since 1936. “ We’ve cleared off the 6-foot by 15-foot counter tops and we’ll just have the performances there!”
AEF is rolling with punches as well. “We’ve cancelled the staging and the port-a-potties, and move the balloon arches to Cliff’s awning,” said Mike Smith, Executive Director of AEF. “Donna Sachet and Sharon McNight will dance and sing on the countertops, the Sisters will staff the door. Sylvester would not have let a little rain dampen his spirit and neither will we. It’s raining men, and not it the good way.”
The public is still encouraged to stop by the party to get out of the rain, enjoy the disco music and thank Cliff’s for 75 years of service to the community! AEF’s Awards & Mimosas event will still happen, rain or shine, inside Toad Hall from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Tickets are $50 and can still be had at www.aef-sf.org/rememberwhen
