Days of Summer

Monday, June 2: Torchwood, inspired by the long-running BBC smash hit Doctor Who, has been as successful as its campy progenitor, and its late-night airtime yields a little more sexiness, violence, gore -- oh, and gay kissing! In the show -- which is basically The X Files meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- the Cardiff branch of the Torchwood Institute investigates extraterrestrial behavior and seeks to adapt alien technology for human use on earth. Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), leader of the Torchwood Three, is one hot captain and -- hallelujah! -- he likes men. Now you can own Torchwood: The Complete Second Season on DVD.Tuesday, June 3: For your listening pleasure, two noteworthy releases hit stores today and, trust us, you'll have these on repeat all summer. Fleet Foxes, a Sub Pop five-piece out of Seattle, craft what they call "baroque harmonic pop jams" on their self-titled debut album. However they choose to describe it, it is heaven. (Think Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young with a dash of Grizzly Bear.) For a better idea, watch the video for "Mykanos" here. Then, we welcome the new full-length from our friends Ladytron. Velocifero features 13 songs recorded in Paris that are riddled with electro-goodness. Their first single, "Ghosts," is a haunting and grinding track that will no doubt be remixed and funneled to dance floors ASAP. See the video here.Wednesday, June 4: Tonight, here! Tunes, the musical child of the gay television network, debuts its first artist and record with Stewart Lewis's In formation at a listening party in West Hollywood's House of Blues Foundation Room at 9pm. Lewis's songs have appeared on numerous TV shows and movies, including the recent here! hit Shelter, and his folksy ways have landed him supporting tour spots with the likes of Sheryl Crow and Ani DiFranco. Bonus: The show is free. Check out his debut's catchy first single, "Not a Love Song". Thursday, June 5: Wow. A glance at the roster for NewFest's 2008 LGBT Film Festival, now in its 20th year, is awe-inspiring. The 10-day event includes documentaries, shorts, and features about families and love affairs from Beirut, Israel, Italy, France, Canada, Lebanon, and Japan. A little comic relief arrives in the form of Another Gay Sequel: Guys Gone Wild!; fashion gets a shout-out with a doc about Jay McCarroll's critical Eleven Minutes on the runway; Antarctica tells the story of friends and lovers in Israel; and pageant queens will get their fill with Pageant, the story of Miss Gay America. Yes, it's as outrageous as it sounds. Check out the festival guide and get your tickets here.Friday, June 6: It's 1982, and Jack and Brad have little in common until their hormones start pumping and a passion for varsity band brings them exceptionally close together. The two teens navigate crushes (on boys and girls), intimately share Playgirls, and try to figure out the difference between real life and a John Hughes movie. It's all in Frank Anthony Polito's Band Fags! Join the author at New York City club Pyramid for a release party featuring a screening of Making of a Male Model (starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Joan Collins), which served as the inspiration behind the book. Watch this fantastic clip of Modelhere. Saturday, June 7: Los Angeles Pride kicks off with two full-day lineups at the WaMu Main Stage in West Hollywood. Joss Stone headlines Saturday night, and that lovable Aussie icon (no, the other one) Olivia Newton-John owns the stage Sunday night. Also appearing will be American Idol alums Kimberley Locke and Frenchie Davis, plus Shannon. Let the music play indeed. Check out LA Pride'swebsite for the deets and additional Pride festivities. Sunday, June 8: OK, sports fans, here's something for you: If you didn't know, two NBA dynasties, the Celtics and the Lakers are going head-to-head for the eleventh time for championship bragging rights. The second game of the potentially seven-game series kicks off at the Fleet Center in Boston at 9pm on ABC. Can't get tickets? No surprise. Here are a few gay sports bars where you'll find exciting NBA action and plenty of jockish eye candy: Crew in Chicago,Joe Senser's Sports Bar & Grill in Minneapolis,Mel's Sports Bar and Grill in St. Louis, and perhaps the craziest two gay sports bars in the nation on this night: Trunks in West Hollywood and Fritz in Boston.