A new national event brand for queer women and femmes called PEACH will hold its first series of pop-up gatherings—Peaches Through the Ages—April 21 at The Bedford in Wicker Park.
This '60s-themed kickoff event was created and curated by Black Thread Agency in partnership with Tito's Handmade Vodka and @LGBT_History. The event will feature music by DJ Tess and DJ All The Way Kay, exclusive PEACH signature cocktails and a specially curated drink menu featuring Tito's Handmade Vodka.
These monthly Friday evening events—May 19 ( '70s ) and June 16 ( '80s ) at The Bedford, and July 21 ( '90s ), Aug. 18 ( '00s ) and Sept. 15 ( the future )—will benefit a different local LGBTQ organization. Locations and times for the final three events will soon be announced.
"To set the mood, we have partnered with Abdel Morched to transform the space for each decade," said Black Thread Agency President Bre Auberry. "We're going for a vibe that is classy, rather than campy, and that vintage aesthetic will be complemented by art installations, models and personalities in '60s outfits and DJ sets filled with empowering oldies. Each event will have its own aesthetic."
Peaches Through the Ages will honor LGBTQ history with the finale focusing on the future.
"We know the future is ours, but sometimes you have to look back to move forward," said Auberry.
Auberry founded Black Thread Agency six months ago. Her background is in market research, event management and the music business. Auberry moved to Chicago two years ago from Florida where she spent her childhood and college years.
Among the six principal team members, Auberry and two others are LGBTQ.
"Based in Chicago, Black Thread Agency builds events for brands that tap into the current cultural moment," said Auberry. "We are a diverse and dedicated team of specialists, and we work with local influencers to ensure the experiences we create are sensitive and authentic to each new market we enter. Though we're managing PEACH from ideation to execution, our core business will be envisioning events to sell to brands and providing the creative vision and marketing support to make them reality.
"Our goal with every event is to create something we would be excited to experience, and we're passionate about that work. Chicago's PEACH influencers are queer-identified Morgan Higgins and queer-identified Hannah Viti."
Auberry explained that she created PEACH because she saw a need for more events that cater to queer women and femmes.
"As for the name, I was inspired the symbolism of peaches—which represent femininity, love and vitality in some cultures—as well as the mischievous contemporary usage of the peach emoji," said Auberry. "The event embodies those themes and are intended to be lighthearted and fun."
PEACH will travel to other U.S. cities following its Chicago debut. Auberry and her team will work with influencers and LGBTQ leaders in those cities to put on these events. Details and locations TBA.
Auberry said organizers plan on holding additional PEACH events in Chicago after they travel to the other locations. They will also be expanding the scope of PEACH to include other kinds of events.
To purchase early bird tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/e/peach-peaches-through-the-ages-60s-tickets-32572003740. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Howard Brown Health's women's health programming is the beneficiary for this kickoff event and will receive $5 of each ultimate PEACH early bird ticket and ultimate PEACH general ticket admission price.
See blackthreadagency.com/ and www.thepeachparty.com/ for more information .
