Taking Pride in Baltimore

If you didn't get Prided out last weekend, then you might as well hop on up to Ballmer, hon. That's right, Baltimore Pride is this weekend. The theme this year is ''Life, Love, Be'More'' -- ain't that cute? Be'More in B'More. Don't mind if Hearsay do! On Sunday, DC's Mara ''Leave It To'' Levi, Tom ''Good Man'' Goss and Odd Girl Out will perform, as will Brendan ''Look Into His Eyes'' Velasquez. But Hearsay's most excited for Saturday, when the Parade kicks off with a high-heel race, and then ends at Eager ''Beaver'' Street in the heart of gay Mount Vernon, where the Pride Block Party goes until 10 p.m. Johnny ''Soccer Baller'' McGovern and his Team Pimp headline the party, and DC's own crazy-good all-female party band Wicked Jezebel will also perform. Best yet, you can drink right there on Gay Street, out in the open, as you view the performers, peruse the vendors and -- don't forget! -- cruise the Pridegoers. What's not to love?

Once that's a wrap -- or even before -- you can just stumble on in to Club Hippo, where local DJ Shawn ''Right On'' Q will spin before the lead-half of Rosabel, the legendary Ralphi ''You Used to Hold Me'' Rosario , spins until 2 a.m., when sadly Charm City turns off the taps and makes you go home. Unless you want to keep going without alcohol. And if you can stomach that, then DC's Ed ''It Ain't My Town, But I Love It Here'' Bailey will save you from yourself once again. He'll spin for what's becoming an annual Pride tradition at B'More's beloved bare-bones after-hours spot, Club 1722. It's always a fun mix of party people: on Pride night mostly gay, but there'll still be a good gaggle of friendly straights, including, quite possibly, B'more pro-athletes. Try to score one for the team....