Celebrating its three-year theme “Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE”, The Los Angeles LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender) Pride Festival takes place along Santa Monica Boulevard and throughout West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood June 6-8. The message of the 38^th annual parade and festival is about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you. Locals and visitors can enjoy the parade, vendor booths, food, exhibits, and live entertainment.

As one of the leading Pride Celebrations in the United States, the annual three-day event brings more pride to West Hollywood - home to Southern California’s largest gay and lesbian population.

The 2008 parade takes place on Sunday, June 8, starting at 11a.m., and will run west along Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard. On the WaMu® Mainstage, musicians Joss Stone, Olivia Newton-John and Kimberly Locke will headline the event on Saturday and Sunday night.

As a way to honour those who are no longer with us - brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends, partners and other loved ones - LA Pride announces its first “Silent Celebration”. The moment of silence shared by nearly 400, 000 parade goers occurs at noon on Sunday June 8.

About 2008 Los Angeles LGBT Pride:

2008 Los Angeles LGBT Pride festival is sponsored by The West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, along with its partner Qantas Airways.

For more information on LGBT Pride, complete entertainment lineups, and the City of West Hollywood’s gay community, visit http://www.lapride.org/ or http://www.gogaywesthollywood.com/.

If I had been in New York this weekend I would definitely have paid a visit to the city’s 3rd annual Coffee & Tea Festival April 12-13, 2008. Taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, the event attracts thousands of people who celebrate everything related to coffee and tea.

Even though a song by a homeless man in a street corner might linger in your mind a long time, it probably doesn’t beat the spectacular celebrations of the spring’s arrival in Nashville. The city officially named April “Awesome April in Music City” and for the sixth year in row, visitors can expect festivals, award shows, concerts and exhibitions.

“It’s going to be another awesome month for this city,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Six years ago we began to collectively market all of the unique events happening in April. We have seen strong growth in attendance at each event and visitor spending has increased dramatically.”

The festivities kick of March 30 with a country music concert at the Sommet Center featuring performers like Marshal Reign, Trailer Choir, Stephen Cochran, Bucky Covington and Lee Brice.

At the beginning of April, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presents more than 250 songwriters and 75 shows set in small venues all over Nashville. You can buy a limited pass at Tin Pan South.

The GMA Dove Awards, the biggest night for Christian and gospel music, takes place at the Grand Ole Opry House on Wednesday April 23 as a finale of GMA Music Week. The event brings together signed and independent artists, church leaders, agents, managers, promoters, record company executives, songwriters, and other people from the gospel music industry.

Other events include Etta James at the Wildhorse Saloon (April 8), Il Trovatore at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (April 10 & 12), CMT Music Awards (April 14), Nashville Film Festival (April 17-24), The Moody Blues at Ryman Auditorium (April 18), Elvis Costello at Ryman Auditorium (April 23), Bon Jovi at the Sommet Center (April 24), and Romeo & Juliet by Nashville Ballet at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (April 25-27).

For an up-to-date listing, see the events calendar on Awesome April in Music City.

Downtown Nashville

“The Promise of Nashville, where the music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience, celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings, and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere”.

- Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau