CHICAGO — The 20th anniversary Grabby Awards weekend gets underway tonight in the Windy City with its official kickoff party “Skin Trade” at Hydrate nightclub.
Directrix and DJ Chi Chi LaRue, who will also emcee Saturday’s awards ceremony alongside dragstress Honey West, hosts the long-running event.
Among the skin stars scheduled to appear are Max Adonis, Zak Bishop, Dillon Diaz, Nick Fitt, Devon Franco, DeAngelo Jackson, Skyy Knox, Jaxx Maxim, Nic Sahara, Sharok, Colby Tucker, Johnny V, Wesley Woods and Zario Travezz.
“The Hydrate party is our official opening party for the Grabbys every year,” producer Stacy Bridges told XBIZ. “Lots of hot porn stars dancing!”
He offered a few tidbits about the upcoming anniversary ceremony. “Attendees can expect Chi Chi and Honey to be themselves,” he joked. “I’m sure they will be spot-on, as always. Our Wall of Fame [inductees] are going to be amazing, but I can’t give any secrets away. It’s always a surprise to the people that are named.”
This year’s milestone edition of the Grabbys is particularly poignant, as it is the first show following the sudden passing of co-founder Mark Nagel in early February. Bridges, who also published, with Nagel, the Chicago LGBTQ biweekly Grab Magazine, vowed the show would go on in his memory.
“My favorite thing about the Grabbys, and I tell this to people all the time, is that it's like a family reunion and every year there is a new, crazy uncle,” Bridges said. “Let’s see who it will be this year! Looking back, the Grabbys has grown into an event that the fans really enjoy. Porn stars that come every year get to meet the fans that enjoy their work. I think many porn stars don't realize how many fans they really have until Grabbys weekend, and to me, that's pretty cool.”
Learn about "Skin Trade" here. Visit the Grabbys website for complete details about the ceremony and related events. Follow the event on Twitter.
In related news, Falcon Studios Group will stage a "Half-Naked Porn Star Takeover" Friday, another official Grabby Awards pre-party, to benefit the Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN).
Seven marquee studs from NakedSword Originals and Falcon Studios — exclusive performers Devin Franco, Skyy Knox, Ricky Larkin, Steven Lee and Colton Reece, with Dante Colle and Nic Sahara — will press the flesh at Chicago's Lucky Horseshoe Lounge. Click here for details.