Hi [NAME],

Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying the summer.

We are gearing up for a mammoth month of madness as we get ready for The Big Gay Out, the Atlantis cruise, OurFest and our own little shindig Bear New Zealand week...phew!

We really appreciate any support you can give to these events in February.

Bear New Zealand week is shaping up to be a fantastic week of events. Running February 21-28, this is the first of its kind here in Aotearoa. We have had lots of interest and we know of several people flying in especially for it, so we want to make it a success. We won’t be able to do it again without your support – so we hope you will be able to attend as many of the events as possible.

Tickets and information to the events can be found here.

URGE is also proud to be a sponsor and supporter of OurFest. Again this is the first one so your support would be gratefully appreciated. The big finale of the festival is the Awards Night. Nominations close on Sunday, so get voting!

And of course the biggest gay event of the year is Big Gay Out. URGE and Caluzzi are teaming up again for a bigger and better beer tent on February 14. Last year’s was a scorcher, lets hope the weather behaves again.

February

Fri Feb 5: Furry Friday. The monthly meeting of the Bear New Zealand group. Starting at Kamo at 8.30pm with raffle and nibbles, we will be selling tickets to the Bear NZ week. Afterwards its down to URGE for music from DJ Sparkle.

Sat Feb 6: Waitangi Day. DJ Donald Bennett will be making sure you sweat with the best music on our national holiday.

Sat Feb 13: DJ Raj will be entertaining you with pumping tunes.

Sun Feb 14: Big Gay Out. Come down to Coyle Park, Pt Chev for a fantastic day in the sun (hopefully!!). URGE is running the beer tent along with the fine people from Caluzzi and we will also be selling tickets to Bear NZ week and the Tri-Nations dance party. All profits from the beer tent goes to the NZAF. Last year we raised $4,000 – let’s blitz that in 2010.

Mon Feb 15 and Tues Feb 16: URGE is opening especially as we welcome the lucky people going on the Atlantis cruise. We will be open at a special time of 7pm both nights. Come meet some happy tourists.

Fri Feb 19: OurFest Awards Night at Eden Park, ASB Lounge. URGE is sponsoring the Best Gay Male category. More information can be found here.

Sat Feb 20: DJ James Leuii in charge of the decks.

Bear New Zealand week:

Sun Feb 21: Opening BBQ at Kamo. Get the Bear New Zealand party started with a special BBQ at Kamo. Starting at 5pm, entry is free, BBQ dinner is $10.

Mon Feb 22: Wet Fur. Centurian Sauna throws open its doors for some furry fun from 3pm. To get in the mood we will have a DJ playing from 8pm til midnight. Tickets are discounted to $21 for anyone with a Bear New Zealand Mates Rates card (see Ticketing/Contacts).

Tues Feb 23: Bear Drag. The fun starts at Kamo at 6pm. Teams will dress volunteer runners in drag, who will race down K Road to Caluzzi. The winning team will receive a special prize.

At 7:30pm the Caluzzi girls will be turning on the glam with a VERY special dinner and show including a musical number by the URGE Bear Divas, appropriately beautified.

This is a ticketed event - $50 for a three-course meal and an UNFORGETTABLE night of entertainment. Seating is limited

Wed Feb 24: URGE UnderBear Party

A special mid-week outing for URGE's most infamous party night. DJ Mauri and special guest Matt Effect will be providing the hot sweaty music. Tickets $10 and are only available on the night (unless bought as part of a package).

Thurs Feb 25: Dot’s Bingo. Dots is a familiar friend in a new location. Peter and Rodney are welcoming the bears with a special night of Bingo with some top prizes.

Running concurrently at Dots will be a showing of art pieces by talented local bear artist Christopher Jannin, creator of both the Bear New Zealand and URGE Bar logos.

Start time is 7pm and this is a free event.

Fri Feb 26: Mr URGE NZ Bear 2010. One of URGE's biggest nights of the year as we search for New Zealand's official entrant into the Mr Australasia competition at Southern HiBearnation in Melbourne in June. The winner gets return flights to Melbourne and you can enter by emailing URGE Bar

Sat Feb 27: THE big night of celebration for Bear New Zealand! We are promising a no-attitude pumping night of fun as we welcome three of the hottest DJs on the planet. From the US, and making his Southern Hemisphere debut, comes DJ Rotten Robbie, who has been spinning for over 20 years to sold out crowds across California. From Australia we have hot new talent Matt Effect who has wowed crowds in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and more recently at Lazy Bear in the US. And of course, quite possible the longest running resident DJ in New Zealand - URGE's very own DJ Mauri, who has been playing up a storm at the bar for 12 years.

This event is not just for bears, it is for everyone looking for a great night out with great company.

This is a ticketed event, tickets will be $30 pre-sale, or $40 at the door

Sun Feb 28: Closing BBQ at Mike Binis’ place in Grey Lynn. We bring the first ever Bear New Zealand week to a close with a friendly BBQ hosted by the Bear New Zealand group and Mike Binis. This is a free event with food provided, but BYOB. Chilly bins and ice will be provided for beverages.