On April 21, Black Thread Agencyin partnership with Tito's Handmade Vodka and @LGBT_Historylaunched PEACH, their first pop-up party event aimed at femmes and queer women. The party, at Wicker Park's The Bedford, served as the debut for what is intended as a national event brand with upcoming gatherings in Chicago and other citieswith this event featuring a 1960s theme.
Guests mingled with models dressed in '60s fashions while sampling a specially crafted cocktail menu from Tito's Handmade Vodka. The drinks included The Other Woman ( mescal, pineapple and pink peppercorn ), Pin Up Punch ( Tito's Vodka, hibiscus and ginger ), and The Morning After ( bourbon, espresso beans and orange bitters ), and partygoers received free manicures and danced the night away with a largely '60s soundtrack that DJ Tess and DJ All The Way Kay provided.
The umbrella event, "Peaches Through the Ages," is focused on setting a safe space for LGBTQ women and femmes and allies and to celebrate one another and pay homage to the community's shared history through art, music and a stylized vintage aesthetic.
PEACH organizer Breana Auberry has said, "We know the future is female, but sometimes you have to look back to move forward." Auberry also said, "This space is about remembering where we came from and moving forward."
The schedule for upcoming, monthly "Peaches Through the Ages" events includes May 19, 2017 ( the 1970s ), June 16 ( the 1980s ), July 21 ( the 1990s ), Aug. 18 ( the 2000s ) and Sept. 15 ( "Future is Female Finale" ). PEACH will travel to other cities after its Chicago run, and Black Thread Agency will partner with local leaders and organizations to make sure that those events are tailored to the local LGBTQ communities.
Berry said, "We're finally starting to see more events for queer women. I want to continue that momentum and take it further. She also added, "We're putting on events that all femme-identified people can relate to and enjoy, because these spaces were created just for them."
Black Thread notified Windy City Times that $400 from the ticket sales will be donated to women's health programming at Howard Brown Health.