Revived event will span 5 days with a variety of new features
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
When organizers decided to revive Razzle Dazzle Dallas, they made the event bigger than it had ever been. And Scott Whittall, president of the Cedar Springs Merchants Association said that the five-day event just keeps growing.
For example, after rain forced the postponement last weekend of a sidewalk sale and antique car show scheduled for Cedar Springs, the events were added to the Razzle Dazzle schedule.
Razzle Dazzle begins on Wednesday, June 1, with the Cedar Springs Wine Walk and Dog Walk. Participating merchants will serve free wine to anyone who has purchased a $5 wine glass. The Humane Society will set up pet stations along the street to make the event dog friendly.
Thursday, June 2, is the Jagermeister Oak Lawn Pub Crawl. A party bus will shuttle partygoers to participating nightclubs off of Cedar Springs. Participants can travel from club to club in their own cars or park in one place and ride the party bus.
Four Oak Lawn bars will offer a variety of entertainment, contests, dancers and more. The party runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and participating clubs include BJ’s NXS, Zippers, the Brick/Joe’s and Kaliente.
Metro Ball begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 3, and is the weekend’s major AIDS fundraiser.
The party will be held at Station 4 until midnight and includes dancing, raffles, a silent auction and entertainment by Deborah Cox. Tickets are $25 in advance and available at GDMAF.org or at Skivvies or $30 at the door.
The event benefits the Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund, which provides financial assistance to people with HIV and AIDS for critical needs when resources are exhausted through other local organizations.
Two additional events have been scheduled for VIP ticket holders. The Melrose Hotel will host a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring Pinnacle flavored vodkas.
The original founders of Razzle Dazzle Dallas will be honored at that reception.
The Round-Up Saloon will hold a late-night private party with hors d’ouevres on the upstairs deck for VIP ticket holders.
VIP tickets are $100 and include five days of free reserved parking at ilume, a $100 merchant coupon book for the Wednesday Wine Walk and more.
Each VIP ticket holder will be entered into a drawing to win dinner, a one-night stay at the Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth and tickets to the musical Chicago at Bass Hall.
Whittall said producers of the show contacted CSMA to offer the giveaway as a promotion for the tour coming because one of the songs in the musical is called Razzle Dazzle.
About 50 autos from Classic Chassis Car Club will be parked along Cedar Springs Road on Saturday until 4 p.m. for an antique and classic car show. Many of the street’s merchants will be offering discounts during the day at a sidewalk sale.
The street closes to vehicular traffic at 4 p.m. for the main event that begins at 7 p.m.
Cazwell will appear on the main stage with Cheer Dallas, Billy Halliday, The Bright, Uptown Players, Chaz Marie, the Gary Floyd Trio, Anton Shaw and the drag-based performance group Something Fabulous!!!
A female impersonator stage will be set up on the deck at Woody’s Sports and Video Bar beginning at 10 p.m.
DJ/VJ Mickey Briggs of Dallas and the dance sounds of DJ Tim Pfleuger from OZ in New Orleans will alternate on a dance stage at Cedar Springs Road at Knight Street.
About 40 community groups will have booths with information and activities. A late addition to the Razzle Dazzle line up is a Midway with carnival games, dunking booths, a mechanical bull and an obstacle course.
Admission to the street is free but Whittall said that this is a fundraiser. Beer sales from booths will go toward the donation to charities. Midway sales and collections from participating vendors and organizations will benefit agencies.
A closing party and tea dance will be held at TMC: The Mining Company on Sunday, June 5. Miss and Mr. Razzle Dazzle Dallas will be crowned at the Brick on Sunday, with the contest beginning at 10 p.m.
Whittall said they are hoping to attract 20,000 to 30,000 people for the street party. He said the last time Razzle Dazzle was staged in 2003, an estimated 35,000 people attended.
The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has been promoting the week nationally.
Veronica Torres of the DCVB said, “We’re marketing Razzle Dazzle Dallas as a destination event.”
She said that they’ve been promoting weekend stays in Dallas through Facebook and Twitter and on their GLBT Dallas site. The DCVB featured the event at trade shows nationally including at a recent International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association convention.
Whittall said the event has been entirely underwritten so all proceeds will go to the beneficiaries — Youth First Texas, Resource Center Dallas, AIDS Interfaith Network, Cedar Springs Merchants Association Beautification Fund, AIDS Arms, Legacy Counseling/Founders Cottage, Lone Star Ride and Legal Hospice
Anyone know how to contact the people in charge of the antique cars?
I would love to do a story for http://www.carladynews.com
As a former Mr. Razzle Dazzle (in 2003), I’m a little confused as to why I haven’t been contacted to be a part of this? I’m sure other title holders (Mr., Miss, and Ms.) would have like to be included as well!
Hey, Mr. Razzle ’03…. why don’t you contact THEM and volunteer your services for this wonderful fundraising event. They may not have the records from 8 years ago you might just be a bit difficult to find. I am certain that RD would love your help. Maybe you could volunteer to get the other Mr. Miss and Ms. RD’s from the past to raise some funds for the event.
Hi Madelyn! I believe the Cedar Springs Merchant Association is working with the antique care group. Send Scott, owner of BULI’s and email for his help with a spokesperson. Scott is reachable, scott@bulicafe.com.
That would be car, not care. haha
Zadi, there are very few records, documented history or people around that know all the people involved with Razzle Dazzle since 1979. If you’d like to help, please email info@razzledazzle.org. I hope you plan to join us for any and all of the events, June 1-5.
Tell Tim Pfleuger his oldies trash-disco friend says hi. I was a friend of the late Larry Bridges and knew Tim from the club before he relocated to Oz. I probably won’t get to attend because I live over 500 miles from Dallas. T-DANCE will live as long as the d.j’s keep the music alive.
Can’t wait it’s been years since last RAZZLE DAZZLE(last time more like fizzle fazzle haha) I’ll be going and called all mi amigos &amigas so the party on!! Also I’m volunteering for MetroBall and for Legal hospice. Remember it’s in “Oak Lawn” not “Up town” So let’s all have a real good time.