by Jessica Carreras
Porn Star Bingo
Five 15
515 S. Washington, Royal Oak
http://www.five15.net
Some Valentine's Day fantasies go beyond flowers and chocolate. At Five 15 Media, Mojo and More, this hearts day could be spent with a porn star.
No, not like that.
Combining the polar opposites of the granny-favorite game Bingo and porn and drag queens, Five 15's Gary Baglio is looking to shake up tradition this year with their themed bingo night.
The night of number (and cat) calling is part of a new series of bingo nights that will run every first and third Saturday of the month at the Royal Oak-based store and social spot. The first one, held last weekend, was called "Bingo with a Drag Queen," and featured femme fatale Sabin as the number caller.
"I didn't know what to expect for the drag queen bingo and it was absolutely over the top," Baglio said. "Everybody had fun – the straight people, the gay people, the in between people had fun. It was just great…the energy was just so wonderful."
"It was everything that I want (Five 15) to be."
The upcoming Valentine's Day night will feature Sabin again, but will also include a special visit from porn star Trevor Knight.
Unfortunately, he won't be, uh, performing.
Instead, said Baglio, Knight will pull numbers and sell raffle tickets.
Tickets for the bingo nights are usually $10 for two cards, which includes eight or nine games. The Valentine's Day with a Porn Star, however, may be a little steeper, said Baglio. "The next one might be a little bit more because we had to bring in Trevor Knight and that wasn't cheap, but it will be under $20."
All upcoming bingo nights will be held at Five 15, and with over 100 people expected to attend, Baglio promises a good time for all. "It's just fun," he described of the debut event. "Sabin alone – I've never laughed so hard in my life. People were just having a really good time. We gave away some decent prizes and there's a sizable cash prize at the end of the night that people win."
Plus, some of the event's proceeds go toward Steppin' Out. "People are having a good time and helping the community out at the same time," he added.
Future game nights may benefit other non-profits – and Baglio hopes his saucy bingo nights can serve as a model for a new age in fundraising.
"I just feel like our region is kind of falling asleep," he said. "I want to wake it up."
And with porn star bingo, he's certain to – in more ways than one.
